Eckert: "Incredible" second half shows our character
Tonda Eckert hailed the character of his Southampton side after an “incredible” second-half turnaround at Leicester.
The head coach was left searching for answers with Saints trailing 3-0 at half time after the hosts swept into a two-goal lead inside 13 minutes.
But Saints reaped the rewards of Eckert’s triple change at the break, as substitute Ross Stewart pulled one back before Jack Stephens made it 3-2 with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
Ryan Manning, who arrived in the 72nd minute, subsequently equalised, before Shea Charles, introduced alongside Stewart at half time, struck an unforgettable winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time to cap a classic comeback victory.
“We arrived quite late to the party today, but an incredible second half shows the character of the team, so it’s a great night,” Eckert reflected.
“I don’t really have an explanation for the first half, to be honest. I’ll watch it over again but for the moment it’s tough to explain what happened.
“Even more important I think if you’re 3-0 down away from home is the decision that you take at half time, and I think the boys have taken the right one.
“You know how it is sometimes, and Leicester are not coming off a good moment. It’s easier said than done, but sometimes one goal completely changes the dynamic of the game, and we knew that we needed to score the first one. The boys decided to have a proper go, and we did.
“I think we’ve all been in those moments where games become very tough, and we’ve all been in those moments where games just seem to flow. Today for us it was about scoring that first goal in the second half to tilt the momentum, and then we pushed it through all the way.”
Stephens might have added a second goal with his own chance to make it 3-3 shortly before Manning did find the net, while Charles’ winner sparked wild scenes of celebration, as Eckert sprinted on to the pitch.
“I only made it halfway – I didn’t really have much time for running and gym lately!” he grinned.
“You don’t have many games like this, especially away from home, so big compliments to the boys, to the reaction, to the energy in the second half. A crazy game.
“I think Stevo could’ve scored two – I said this to him straight after the game! It’s tough to find the right words after a game like today.”
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