Southampton

Southampton's Tom Fellows is hoping to contribute more goals and assists as Saints seek promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Fellows has featured in 15 of the 17-game unbeaten run in all competitions, making three assists but the midfielder is yet to score this season.

"It's always on your mind but sometimes I'm more interested in the general performance. I think some of my best games have been when I haven't scored, I haven't assisted," Fellows told BBC Radio Solent.

"We've got a lot of competition in the squad, so I've just got to try and play a little bit better and help the team more but I think it's going great for everyone and long may it continue."

Southampton currently sit fifth in the Championship, having picked up 36 points since their last loss to Hull City in January.

The appointment of head coach Tonda Eckert kickstarted a remarkable turnaround for Saints, who were sat 21st in the table and looking more likely to be embroiled in a relegation scrap than shooting for promotion when previous boss Will Still was sacked at the beginning of November.

"[Eckert]'s very tactical, very detailed, obsessed with the game. He's also a very good man-manager. He speaks to you a lot, he knows how to deal with certain things well. It's that balance which is why we've done so well," Fellows said.

"A breath of fresh air."

Southampton host Blackburn Rovers in the Championship tonight (20:00 BST), when a win would take them closer to the automatic promotion spots.

"[Blackburn] are obviously in a relegation battle, that always brings a little bit extra out, especially towards the end of the season when you know another good result will help them so much," Fellows said.

"We've got to match that and we're fighting for something; got our own goals."

"We understand they're going to be well drilled, physical but they can also play some good football so it will be a tough game."

Listen to the full interview with Tom Fellows and more Saints on BBC Sounds.

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Southampton have signed 17-year-old Mali youth international Issa Tounkara.

The defensive midfielder plays for Academie des Etoiles du Mande in his homeland and has agreed terms to officially join Saints in the summer after his 18th birthday.

Tounkara recently captained his country at the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations where his side made the final but ended up losing to Morocco on penalties.

"We're delighted to welcome Issa to Southampton," Saints technical director Johannes Spors said., external

"He's an exciting talent and there was interest from several top European academies, so we're very pleased he has chosen us.

"He'll now have the time and environment to continue his development within our academy set-up when he arrives at Staplewood in the summer."

Martin Sanders
Southampton fan writer

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If there was any doubt about Taylor Harwood-Bellis' importance to Southampton, the past week has removed it entirely.

Across recent victories over Arsenal, Wrexham and Derby, he has delivered performances that define not just matches, but momentum.

At a stage of the season where pressure intensifies and margins tighten, Harwood-Bellis is stepping forward as the leader this side needs.

Saturday's win over Derby felt particularly significant as, with the game finely poised, it was Harwood-Bellis who rose highest to score the winner.

That was a moment that underlined both his defensive authority and growing influence in the opposition box - it was not just a goal, it was a player taking responsibility when it mattered most.

There is now a real composure to his game, when pressure builds he does not panic instead he controls, organising those around him and ensuring Southampton remain structured.

Speaking after the Arsenal win, Harwood-Bellis made it clear that this unbeaten run is no accident, it is built on belief, detail and the work of the manager.

That shift in mentality has been crucial, but it is backed by tactical precision.

From going direct into forwards, to winning second balls and exploiting space, Southampton now play with a clear and consistent identity.

Those details are making a difference. He is winning more first contacts, making smarter decisions and playing with a calmness that was not always there before.

There is no doubt this is the best we have seen of him in a Southampton shirt, he has developed massively, with his vision and composure now central to how Saints build from the back.

As the promotion race intensifies, Harwood-Bellis is not just contributing, he is defining it.

You can find more of Martin's thoughts regarding Saints on his YouTube channel., external

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Having stormed into the play-off places with 11 wins and three draws in the league since their last defeat in mid-January and also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, Southampton will look to extend their 17-match unbeaten run overall when they host Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday (20:00 BST).

A win would take Saints above Middlesbrough into fourth in the Championship on goal difference.

Blackburn have been languishing in the bottom half of the table for most of the season but can move seven points clear of the relegation zone with victory.

• Southampton have only lost one of their last 20 home league games against Blackburn Rovers (W14 D5), a 2-1 defeat in November 2001 in the Premier League.

• After their 2-1 win in October, Blackburn are looking to complete only their third ever league double over Southampton, previously achieving this in 1938-39 and 2001-02.

• Southampton are yet to lose a midweek league game under Tonda Eckert, winning eight and drawing two of 10 such games.

• Blackburn have only won two of their last 13 midweek league games (D3 L8), losing four of five in 2026 (W1).

• Southampton's Finn Azaz has been involved in six goals in his last eight Championship appearances (three goals, three assists). Across the last two seasons, Azaz has more goals and assists combined than any other player in the division (he has 42 goal contributions: 23 goals, 19 assists).

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Will Perry
Final Score reporter

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The EFL could well have egg on their face. No place for Tonda Eckert on the manager of the season shortlist? Southampton's social media post simply reads, "just don't think they understand".

They were a place above the relegation zone when the unknown German was appointed caretaker in November following the sacking of Will Still.

Now Saints are unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions and sitting comfortably in a play-off spot with a game in hand.

Plus they'll hope there's still three trips to Wembley to come, with a date already in the diary - on 25 April - to take on Manchester City in an FA Cup semi-final.

It's not beyond the realms of possibility that they'll compete for an automatic promotion spot in their five remaining Championship games.

No matter what happens in the run-in, there's surely no doubt that Eckert will lead Saints next season. At the turn of the year a Premier League return looked impossible; it's now well and truly in their sights.

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert spoke to BBC Radio Solent after Saturday's 2-1 win against Derby County.

"It was our best game of the week, the boys were outstanding today. It was a top, top, top performance," he said.

"Every game has its own story. We were clearly on top in the first half and then conceded off a corner, which can happen. Then to keep pushing and to have the energy and belief to come back was outstanding today.

"There is a reason we are so close to Derby in the table, they have picked up so many points lately.

"There are no easy games, and just because you have won some games in the past you have to keep going to earn it again and again, and the boys did that very well."

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The EFL has announced the fixtures for the 2026-27 season will be published at midday on Thursday, 25 June.

The first-round draws for the Carabao Cup and the Vertu Trophy will be made on the same day.

The new season will kick off on the weekend of August 7-9 with the first round of the Carabao Cup, and the opening fixtures in the Championship, League One and League Two will follow a week later on 14-16 August.

The first round of the Vertu Trophy will be played in the week commencing 21 September.

Image source, EFL

Millwall striker Josh Coburn has been named the Championship's player of the month for March.

The 23-year-old scored three goals last month as the Lions won two, drew one and lost one of their four matches.

Coburn scored the winning goal against Derby and an important equaliser at promotion rivals Ipswich with his tally for the season currently standing at nine.

It is the second successive month a Millwall player has won the award with winger Femi Azeez taking the February prize.

West Brom defender George Campbell, Southampton goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and Derby defender Matt Clarke were also nominated.

Millwall visit West Brom on Friday night (20:00 BST).

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Southampton's Tonda Eckert has been named the Championship's manager of the month for March.

The Saints went unbeaten in the league last month, winning three and drawing one of their four games including a victory at the leaders Coventry.

The Sky Blues' Frank Lampard, Matt Bloomfield of Oxford United and West Brom interim boss James Morrison were also nominated.

Eckert also won the award in February when Southampton were again unbeaten and have continued their good form into April, moving into the play-off places as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

They meet Derby at home on Saturday (15:00 BST).

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Southampton have been granted permission to wear their commemorative shirt when they play Manchester City in the FA Cup semi final.

The special yellow strip marks 50 years since they won the FA Cup in 1976 against Manchester United.

Saints have worn the kit in all of their previous rounds of the competition this season, beating Doncaster, Leicester, Fulham and Arsenal on the way to Wembley.

The FA has confirmed the match will be played on Saturday 25 April, kicking off at 17:15 BST.

Saints have been allocated the west end of Wembley – the same end their fans were in for the 2024 Championship play-off final when they beat Leeds United.

They booked their spot in the semi-finals with a memorable win over Premier League leaders Arsenal when Ross Stewart and Shea Charles fired them to victory.

The game will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Southampton are hoping for a sixth successive win in all competitions having reached the FA Cup semi-finals with a victory over Arsenal last weekend and won 5-1 at Wrexham on Tuesday to move into the Championship play-off places.

Derby have won as many games away as they have at home this season (9) but were beaten at Coventry on their last road trip.

• Southampton have lost just one of their past 10 league games against Derby (W3 D6), going down 1-0 at home in February 2007.

• This is Derby's first away league game against Southampton since February 2012, when they lost 4-0 under Nigel Clough.

• Since Tonda Eckert's first game in charge of Southampton on 5 November, the Saints have picked up the most points (54) and scored the most goals (55) of any Championship side.

• John Eustace has picked up 84 points in 55 Championship games with Derby County (W24 D12 L19), the fifth-most of any side since his first game in charge last February.

• Finn Azaz has been involved in eight goals in his past 12 home league starts for Southampton (5 goals, 3 assists), including three in his last three (2 goals, 1 assist).

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Oxford United's Matt Bloomfield, Tonda Eckert of Southampton, West Brom interim boss James Morrison and Coventry's Frank Lampard have all been nominated for the March Championship manager of the month award.

Bloomfield led Oxford to seven points from their four games last month to give them hope of avoiding relegation from the Championship, while Eckert's Southampton went unbeaten in March - and won at leaders Coventry.

Morrison was handed the task of lifting West Brom clear of the bottom three and took eight points from an unbeaten four-game run.

Coventry have continued their charge towards the Premier League, with Lampard overseeing three wins and just that one blemish in the defeat by Southampton.

Southampton goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and West Brom defender George Campbell are nominated for the player of the month award along with Millwall striker Josh Coburn and Derby defender Matt Clarke.

The winners of both awards will be announced on Friday morning.

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Southampton striker Cyle Larin believes that his side are "becoming stronger" with every game they play.

Saints added to the success of Saturday's FA Cup win over Arsenal with a thumping victory over Wrexham on Tuesday, when they scored five goals to jump back into the play-off positions.

Larin was on the scoresheet for his fifth goal of the season at At Stok Cae Ras, picking up the ball on halfway before driving towards goal and finishing across the keeper with his right foot.

He arrived at Saints on deadline day in the January transfer window with an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.

"There's a lot of belief in the squad and trust in each other," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"I think you see it on the pitch where the guys are really connecting and I think it's just game-by-game we are getting better and becoming stronger.

"You can smile for a bit with the win, but we're going to have to go again this weekend and the next game is the most important game and the team knows that.

"It was a great game against Arsenal and we knew Wrexham was very important, probably more important than the last game but everyone knows we take it game-by-game."

Saints are next in action on Saturday when they host Derby County before playing Blackburn Rovers in midweek.

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Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has praised "outstanding" Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson before their Championship tie in Wales on Tuesday night (20:00 BST).

While Wrexham's Hollywood ownership and big spending often takes the limelight, the German believes the buck stops with Parkinson when it comes to the Welsh side's success.

"I think he's doing an outstanding job," Eckert told BBC Radio Solent.

"It does come down to the manager to put those pieces together and it's a very tough place to go to.

"It's so clear what they do, it's a very clear identity, a very clear style of playing and not an easy one to come up against."

The two sides are both pursuing a place in the play-offs, with the Saints aiming to leapfrog the Red Dragons into sixth spot.

Southampton will have momentum in their favour following a four-match winning run that includes victories over Championship leaders Coventry City and an FA Cup upset against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

But Eckert believes there are limits to what the side can draw from such big wins.

"The games have nothing to do with each other," Eckert added. "What you can take is the confidence to win games but that's it.

"I think the game and the way it unfolds has nothing to with Coventry because it's a completely different set-up."