Southampton

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Adam Blackmore and former Saints midfielder Jo Tessem analyse a resounding 5-1 win for Saints against Millwall.

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Championship match between Southampton and Millwall.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

Steve: 5-1 is a great result but weirdly we never dominated the game and I was nervous until we got the fourth. We are great when Azaz and Scienza get going but we lack creativity in the middle of the park and are not overly tough on that area, particularly when Downes isn't there.

We also need a good partner for Schlotterbeck if Taylor Harwood-Bellis goes and it's definitely not Jack Stephens. But we will see, it's not a bad start and we do have some quality.

Andy: If we're all honest, nobody saw this coming. However, I guess somebody was going to suffer a backlash after cup exit midweek. Now the 'minus points total' is history it's onwards and upwards - COYS.

Malcolm: Very good performance all round, just need to stop going a goal down before we start playing the way we can.

Image source, Getty Images

Millwall fans

Mr Darren: Alex Neil has to be held accountable for this awful result.

Eight players are out injured and majority are injuries picked up on the training pitch.

Michael: It's too early to say. We looked shaky at the back, Jake Cooper is getting older.

Julian: Hope Millwall FC can put the loss behind them and think of the next match. Come on, you Lions!

Sam Ashoo
BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton's 5-1 win against Millwall in the Championship on Saturday will be remembered for Cyle Larin's unbelievable flick and volley. But an honourable mention must go to Leo Scienza.

His first-half assist for Finn Azaz was one of the best the Championship will see this season. A mazy, dazzling run was capped off with a perfect chip to put it on a plate for Azaz, who nudged the Saints in front.

It felt like every attack of note, of which there were many, came through Scienza, with the winger very much living up to the hype that comes with being an attacker from Brazil. There was also little doubt he would dispatch his penalty for Southampton's third.

Head coach Tonda Eckert has built a side that looks robust at the back and full of flair going forward. If he can stay fit, Scienza will have a huge part to play in the Saints' promotion push this campaign.

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert says there is more to come from his side after their 5-1 victory over Millwall.

Cyle Larin scored twice, added to by goals from Finn Azaz, Leo Scienza and Tom Fellows.

Following their four-point deduction after Spygate, Saints are now on two points in 17th place.

"No start to the season is easy," Eckert told BBC Radio Solent

"As much as we all want things to get up and running from the start but it takes time.

"We've seen in moments of the game how good we can be. Even after today there is a lot more to come."

Eckert is now preparing for this week's trip to face Birmingham.

"There is a long way to go. We managed to stay humble and hungry last year and that is the job. Tuesday's game (at Birmingham) is going to demand a lot from us.

"Today and tomorrow it is about recovery and then we will focus on that."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse says that it feels like "the right time" to be back at the club.

The 31-year-old re-signed at St Mary's for his second spell on Friday after three years away with West Ham, including two loan spells with Nottingham Forest and Burnley.

The midfielder joined Saints for just under £1m and agreed terms on a two-year contract.

"I feel excited and that it's the right time," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"It's been a really turbulent couple of years with a lot of time to think to myself about what I want my career to look like.

"The opportunity came up and it was something that I was keen to do, to be back home is really special."

Southampton are back in Championship action on Saturday when they play Millwall at St Mary's who have got off to a perfect start in the league so far this season.

Despite struggling for consistent minutes on the pitch in the past couple of years, Ward-Prowse is determined to hit the ground running on his return to his old club.

"I'll be ready for when the whistle blows (for the Millwall game)," he added.

Although I've not been on the pitch as much as I'd like to, I've been in the gym and doing the extra bits to make sure that I'm ready for whatever comes about.

"I set very high standards for myself so I don't need anyone to tell me when I've played well or not, I know that within myself now.

"I'm a lot older now than when I first started out so I understand the game a lot more and I know my body really well."

Image source, Shutterstock

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has confirmed there are still discussions around defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis' future at the club.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a move throughout the summer, having attracted attention from Portuguese club Benfica before the club rejected a bid from Premier League side Aston Villa, external.

"There's interest and there is a conversation," Eckert said in his press conference on Friday.

"I am talking every day to Taylor and at the moment, he is a Southampton player."

Meanwhile, midfielder Caspar Jander is taking longer than expected to return from the muscle injury he picked up in pre-season but is anticipated to be back before the international break in September.

"We were hoping for him to come back a little bit quicker," Eckert said.

"His muscle hasn't reacted too well in the first training sessions but we are talking over a week back and the last days have been positive. I'm hoping that [his return] will be very soon."

Southampton play league leaders Millwall at St Mary's on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Image source, Shutterstock

Southampton defender Josh Quarshie has joined Austrian Bundesliga side SK Sturm Graz on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old joined the club in May 2025 on a four-year deal from 1899 Hoffenheim but has since failed to secure a place in head coach Tonda Eckert's side, playing just 18 times.

The Germany under-21 international made his debut in a 2-1 win against Wrexham last season, but has not featured since March.

Southampton said it "wishes Joshua all the best for the remainder of the campaign", and that the club would be monitoring his progress.

It is 36 year since Millwall last won their opening three games of a league season and they can repeat that feat with a victory at Southampton on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Southampton have not been beaten at home in the league since 17 January when Hull City left the south coast with a 2-1 win.

• Millwall were one of just four teams to take at least four points from Southampton in the Championship last season alongside Hull City (6), Bristol City (4) and Middlesbrough (4) – the Lions won 3-2 at home and drew 0-0 away on New Year's Day.

• Millwall have won two of their past three league games against Southampton (D1), this after winning just one of their prior 11 between 1988 and 2023 (D5 L5).

• Southampton are unbeaten in each of their past 11 Championship home games (W8 D3), last having a longer run at St Mary's in the league between December 2010 and December 2011 (24).

• After beating Bristol City and Norwich City by a combined 5-0 scoreline, Millwall are hoping to win their opening three matches of a league campaign for the first time since the 1990-91 season. The Lions have never won their opening three while keeping a clean sheet in each in club history.

• No player has scored more Championship goals than Southampton's Cyle Larin since his debut in the competition on February 7th – he has netted 10 goals in 18 games at an average of one every 100 minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton are exploring a deal to re-sign 31-year-old English midfielder James Ward-Prowse from West Ham. (Talksport), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert called for his side to be more robust and resilient after their 4-1 defeat to West Ham on Tuesday night.

The Saints took an early lead through Leo Scienza but went into the break level before conceding three times in the second half.

Up until the point when the Hammers drew level, the Saints boss said that he was encouraged by the performance.

"If we go back to the start of the game then there were quite a few things that went well," Eckert told the media after the game.

"We overall played a very good first half, I think the game then changed with the first goal that we conceded.

"We didn't find an answer today and we know that there's work to do and the last week of the window is always a very particular time of the year.

"We need to make sure that we become more robust and resilient as a group."

Saints next face Millwall at St Mary's on Saturday before a trip to Birmingham City on Tuesday which is also transfer deadline day.

A new episode of BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home podcast is now available.

Adam Blackmore and former Saints midfielder Jo Tessem pick apart a heavy 4-1 home defeat to West Ham in the League Cup second round.

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Carabao Cup match between Southampton and West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

Philip: This was very disappointing. It shows that West Ham are miles ahead of us. We urgently need more defenders and another forward. A result like this suggests mid-table, or worse.

Malcolm: We are nowhere up to standard. Wood played well but Stephens had a horrendous game, responsible for two of West Ham's goals. I hope they turn it round against Millwall.

Philip: Terrible. Looked like they met in the car park for the first time, folded like a broken deckchair in second half.

Anthony: Terrible, incoherent team display. If there was a plan or strategy it wasn't on display. Lack of firepower, lack of midfield creation, lack of coherent press, inability to clear lines safely. Last season's fight appears to be missing. Promotion will elude a team that plays like this.

Phil: So disappointed, not with losing but how we are being let down by the mediocre effort the side is giving us. It's not just the players that lost out last season. Yes, they lost money but the fans lost more than that and I know it's not the player's fault but the club owe us, and the players represent the club.

They need to put this right and the way they are going about it is less than satisfactory!

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham fans

Joe: Both sides put out youthful teams, can't judge this result too much but still a good win. Young lads proved they deserve a chance in the league, hope Nuno gives them one.

Dave: First half was poor again, but better in the second half especially after the four substitutions.

The real big problem is they have, and are still doing so, sold off the good players and either getting in some rubbish or none at all, this club is in a real mess.

On top of this the manager doesn't have a clue.

Simon: Much better tonight, why aren't we playing like that in the league? Still don't think Nuno will be manager much longer. Ajala, Orford, Mayers and Veltman all deserve a start at the weekend.

Paul: It seemed impressive when I read the result but when I watched the highlights it was full of mistakes that basically the second tier would make. I'm really worried that West Ham will not live up to all the pre-season hype, here's hoping!

Rob: Such an important result and it really couldn't have gone any better. Strong performances from a number of the youth players and much needed goals for key players to give everyone a much needed lift after a tough start.

Derby County have registered an interest to bring Southampton and Chile forward Ben Brereton Diaz, 27, back to Pride Park on another loan after a successful spell at the club last season, however the Saints would prefer a permanent deal. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.