--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-10-24T01:02:17.624Z last_updated: 2026-10-23T08:01:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/southampton/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGFpbHllY2hvLmNvLnVrL3Nwb3J0LzI2NjYyOTY5LmVja2VydC1yZWplY3RzLXN1Z2dlc3Rpb24tb3ZlcmNvbXBsaWNhdGluZy1zb3V0aGFtcHRvbi10YWN0aWNzLz9yZWY9cnNz --- # Eckert rejects suggestion of overcomplicating Southampton tactics | Daily Echo - **Source:** - **Published:** 23 Oct - **Club:** Southampton - **Original URL:** https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26662969.eckert-rejects-suggestion-overcomplicating-southampton-tactics/?ref=rss Eckert oversaw seven points from three games, including 1-0 wins against Portsmouth and Norwich City, and a 0-0 home draw against Bolton. The boss was forced into several personnel changes over the seven days due to fitness and a red card in the first half of the derby two weeks ago. His side's draw with Bolton, despite missing four clear-cut chances, led media and supporters to question Eckert's approach for that game. Eckert played both Tom Fellows and Leo Scienza down the left to combat Bolton's attacking right-back, shifting Finn Azaz across the pitch. "We have played, as a base structure, a 4-2-3-1 in most games," insisted Eckert. "Portsmouth was the only one where we played three in midfield. Tonda Eckert speaks ahead of West Ham (Image: Matt Watson / Southampton FC) READ: Eckert refuses to rule two injured stars out of West Ham trip "That was with the goal to get James Bree a little bit higher up the pitch, and I think that worked quite nicely. In the end, it's the players on the pitch. "They make you play a certain way. I think there are areas on the pitch where we are very, very strong, especially now with Caspar Jander coming back. "It's my job to find solutions to get certain players on the pitch together, but I think it's not been too different in the way that we have set up. "It's always a balance of knowing how strong we are and respecting that, and at the same time taking into consideration what we come up against. "Even if you go into a game as the favourite, I still think every game deserves some respect towards the opposition that you come up against." Saints failed to score in a Championship game for the first time this season against Bolton, having only netted one in their prior back-to-back wins. The likes of Cyle Larin and Finn Azaz, who had been red-hot before the international break, have yet to score since returning from their countries. But Eckert insists he has no concerns over his side's capabilities in front of the goal, with their shots and expected goals stats not showing a decrease. "I see that slightly differently, because we have created more than any other team in the championship from open play," said the German. "The quality of chances that we've had, if you only look at the last three games, has been the highest in the league, but we only scored two goals. "I can understand a different view, but I think we have created more than enough, especially considering we've been a man down in one half. "I think our finishing was exceptional before the international break and probably a little bit better than the chances would have allowed us. "Now I think we've created, so I think that always balances out throughout the season, but for me, there's nothing to worry about on the defensive side. "We just take the positives that we manage to keep clean sheets, and I'm very sure if we keep creating, we will score a lot more goals than last week."