Eckert explains defensive shift as Saints back-line face toughest test yet

The Hammers are the top scorers in the division with a whopping 30 goals from 11 matches and lead virtually every offensive statistic this season.

Tonda Eckert's decision to restore Jack Stephens to the line-up ahead of the 1-0 south coast derby win over Portsmouth was harsh on Nathan Wood.

But captain Stephens has since earned his place and does not look like losing it again any time soon after three outstanding displays in a row.

"I'm lucky enough to have a very strong squad, and sometimes there are some decisions to take, and they are hard," Eckert told the Daily Echo.

"I'm not so much speaking for myself, but for players, because I agree, I think that Woody has played very good games.

"Then you have an international break, and you come up with a game that I think is just very, very particular.

"I think that the derby is just a game not like any other in the league, but just requires a couple of reflections that just go deeper.

"In that case, I've decided to start with Jack. You never know before [if] that's the right decision, but my feeling told me that it was a game for Jack.

"Then you keep a clean sheet with a man down and so you continue that way. I understand how tough that has been for Woody to accept

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"He's been exceptional and very professional in the way that he's gone about that, and I'm sure that he will be on the pitch again.

Nathan Wood was taken out of the starting line up

"I know that once he's on the pitch, he performs as well. Sometimes it is what it is. You take a decision for one game.

"Then that game kind of gives you something for the game that comes after and I think that Jack has done very well."

The constant in the back line has been Keven Schlotterbeck, who is looking to be a bargain after his £3million arrival from Augsburg in August.

Since arriving late in the summer window, Schlotterbeck has started the last nine Championship matches in a row.

The German tops almost every defensive stat amongst his teammates, leading for the most defensive contributions per 90 minutes (10.4).

Keven Schlotterbeck has impressed since his arrival at Saints

After an excellent start to life at Saints, Saturday is an opportunity for the 29 year old to test himself against the best squad in the division.

"I think that is a difference if you sign a very young player or a player that is 29. So the expectation was that he fits straight in," Eckert said.

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"It's been a couple of things that we do a little bit differently to how he's played at former clubs. He played more in a back-three in Germany.

"He's played more as a half-back, so got dragged out a little bit more to defend on the sides. Now he is a little bit more central in the way he defends.

"The amount of games, obviously, for him is different because, as good as his career was, he hasn't played international football that often.

"So it's not that he's used to playing midweek games and I think he's coping with that very well. It's important to have a left-footed player in there.

"That can open up the game for us in a different way we've seen in the way that he plays that he gives us some bigger solutions a little bit earlier.

"It's just very important for us to be able to go big from both sides. I think that there is a lot more to come and he's only getting better."