Eckert: St Mary's support pushed us to victory

Saints were back on home soil after 102 days away and flew out of the traps to edge in front inside eight minutes, as Cyle Larin raced on to a defence-splitting pass from Flynn Downes to score his third goal in three games at the start of the new season.

Stoke hauled themselves level in the first half but Saints pushed hard after the break, eventually breaking through when former Potter Divin Mubama opened his Saints account in the 89th minute, before Ryan Manning’s penalty made the game safe in stoppage time.

“These games don’t just fall on to you, you need to work hard. The first one is always the toughest one, and I think especially in the second half we kept pushing and pushing,” Eckert said.

“It helps so massively to have the support. It just makes you keep going, and I think over the 90 minutes it was very well deserved.

“Our football is going to get better over time, but that’s not what it’s about at this stage of the season.

“We know there are things to improve, but you have to find a way to put points on the board. I’m so proud of the boys and the way that we did that in the second half.”

Mubama marked his home debut with the all-important second goal with a crisp first-time finish from Finn Azaz’s cute lay-off.

Mubama’s fellow substitute Lewis Dobbin was also involved in the goal, before Sam Edozie won a very late spot-kick, leading to the dismissal of Stoke’s Svante Ingelsson.

“It’s big. That’s your bread and butter. Goals for a striker is what gives you energy,” Eckert said of Mubama getting off the mark.

“I think he was outstanding when he came on, not just the way that he is when we’re on the ball, but he was excellent in the way we pressed, always having pressure on the ball, so I’m very, very happy for him.

“We had so much energy coming off the bench today, and that’s a very positive one to take.”