EXCLUSIVE: Will Still was sacked by Southampton earlier this season after failing to lead the Saints into the Championship promotion race, with pressure now growing on his successor, Tonda Eckert
It’s been more than a month since Southampton tasted victory in the Championship, something Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United will look to exploit at St Mary’s.
The two teams meet on Wednesday, and Blades icon Michael Brown is hoping his ex-club can bounce back from their weekend loss at Charlton. “The away form still needs to improve, I think that’s where Chris will be honest with you,” Brown told Mirror Football.
“He’s looking to make them harder to beat; looking to be a bit tougher. This game… It’s just a must. This is where it’s going to change the season. You’ve got to be coming away with as many points as you can.”
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Southampton were one of the pre-season favourites for promotion after their relegation from the Premier League last year. They brought in Will Still, one of Europe’s most exciting young managers, but he was sacked before Christmas.
Tonda Eckert replaced Still and initially got a tune out of Southampton, winning six of his first seven games. But the Saints have struggled since.
Brown knows just how brutal the Championship is and warned Still when the pair sat next to each other at last season’s play-off final between the Blades and Sunderland. “We were explaining how the Championship is very relentless, how it’s different,” said the ex-midfielder.
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“He sort of sat and listened and said, ‘Yeah, it’ll be tough.’ Obviously, he goes in and gets the job, and he found it exactly that.
“For all the talented players, he tries to get a coaching way of playing. He knows exactly what he wants, but he just couldn’t get a tune, could he? They got a reaction as soon as that (the manager) changed, and this is what happens. You need time, unfortunately. Ultimately, if you don’t get that run of results, you are going to be changed around.”
Both teams go into Wednesday’s game in the bottom half of the table. Brown, who played for Southampton’s bitter rivals Portsmouth in the 2010 FA Cup final, believes the Saints still have time to climb the standings.
“They’ve got some good players still,” he noted. “You look over time, how many players have left that place has just been incredible, to be honest.
“But I think it’ll be a really tricky game, to be honest. I really think it’s going to be an interesting one. Now they’ve just had a patchy bit of form, sort of inconsistent.”
More than 100 Blades fans will travel to St Mary’s on free-of-charge luxurious coaches thanks to Midnite, Southampton’s official training kit partner and United’s principal partner.
Midnite did the same for Southampton fans when they travelled up to Sheffield for the reverse fixture earlier this campaign.
“It’s a great achievement,” said Brown on Midnite’s initiative. “We’re on the bus, going down with all the fans for the game. “It’s a great initiative that Midnite are doing something with the fans and giving something back. We’re gonna have a great night.”
Michael Brown was speaking exclusively to the Daily Mirror on behalf of Midnite, club sponsors of Sheffield United and Southampton, as it brings back The Midnite Express, which will see over 100 Blades fans travel to St Mary’s on luxury coaches free of charge for their Championship clash on Wednesday, January 21.
Midnite continues to bring fans closer to the teams they love with exciting partner initiatives.
