Southampton

Southampton's first Championship game since the Spygate scandal ended in a 2-1 loss at Watford on Sunday.

Canadian striker Cyle Larin pulled a goal back for the Saints in the second period but they could not find an equaliser.

We asked for Southampton fans to send us their views on the performance and result and here is what some of them had to say:

Steve - Ineffective sideways and backwards keep-possession play instead of positive attacking play. When are Saints going to learn?

George - Started well but then could not hold them off. Both goals should have been stopped. Jack Stephens has to look at himself for both goals. Much better second half but we still need a top striker. I wish Tonda Eckert would give Edozie a better run as he is very skilful.

Andy - Put the players in their natural position - when Scienza was on the wing we looked a far better team in the second half. Let's put the first game behind us and March On.

Jon - Our captain Jack Stephens lost us the game. He gave the ball away for their first goal, and ran parallel with their attacker for their second goal rather than closing him down. Dobbin is too lightweight. He did not go into tackles, he just hoped the defender would stand off.

Colin - Honestly I thought we looked completely lost in this game as if we had just found 11 players who had not played together before. Credit to Watford, they never let us settle and when we looked like we could have got going they out-muscled us everywhere.

Paul - Southampton have a lot to do to get back to how they ended last season. It would help if the FA pulled their finger out on making a decision on Tonda Eckert and the media stopped raking up the past.

Frank - Saints were careless in the first half and paid the price. Watford wanted it more although some of their tackles were a bit over the top - hence the six yellow cards for their team.

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert spoke to BBC Radio Solent after his side's 2-1 defeat at Watford.

"I think we had a very good start in the game. We made a mistake in possession, they scored off the first occasion, and these games take a different dynamic," he said.

"The reaction was very positive; if you look at 90 minutes, we didn't get the result that we wanted - that's clear - but there were more than enough moments to turn the game around.

"Overall, a disappointing result today, but we now go on to three home games in a row and we need to make sure we pick up points."

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton have rejected a £17.1m offer from Benfica for defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

The one-cap England international, 24, is valued significantly higher by the Championship club, who dismissed the bid without entering into further negotiations.

Benfica's new manager, Marco Silva, is also interested in Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo. However, the 28-year-old is understood to have at least one option in France and another in the Premier League.

Harwood-Bellis has been at Southampton since 2023 after which his initial loan move from Manchester City was made permanent for £20m.

His current contract with the Saints expires in 2028.

Southampton begin their Championship campaign on Sunday with a trip to Watford, having been controversially thrown out of last season's play-offs through a spying scandal in the semi-final with Middlesbrough.

Watford host Southampton on Sunday (13:30 BST) as they return to the Championship after their dramatic seasons last time out.

The Hornets saw three different managers at Vicarage Road last season and they have a brand new one to introduce on the weekend as Alessio Dionisi makes his debut in the English Football League.

While Saints will want to show they haven't been rattled following their expulsion from the play-offs after 'Spygate', external.

• Watford have won just one of their last 14 meetings with Southampton in all competitions (D6 L7); a 2-1 away win in the Premier League in March 2022 (D3 L3 since).

• Southampton are unbeaten in their last 10 away league games against Watford (W4 D6), drawing each of their previous two visits since a 1-0 win in the Premier League in October 2021.

• Watford lost their final five Championship games last season by an aggregate score of 1-16; the Hornets last lost six in a row outside the top-flight in February 1973 (9).

• Southampton ended last season unbeaten in their final 19 league games (W14 D5), only once previously have they gone 20+ league games unbeaten, doing so in February 2024 (22).

• Despite only playing 1,800 minutes in the Championship last season (excluding play-offs), only Radek Vítek (8.5) and Carl Rushworth (8.1) prevented more goals based on Opta's expected goals model than Southampton's Daniel Peretz (7.1), conceding 18 goals (excluding own goals) from an xGOT conceded total of 25.1.

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Could Manchester City striker Divin Mubama's loan spell at Southampton be just what he needs to make the step up to being a true first-team player?

The 21-year-old was ever-present in Stoke City's matchday squad last season, but a serious leg injury in January meant he made only one further Championship appearance for the club.

He will be hoping to play a bigger role during his time at St Mary's and BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore feels it could be reminiscent of recently departed Saints midfielder Shea Charles' time at Sheffield Wednesday.

Charles, who also came up through City's academy, played 44 games for the Owls during his breakthrough season on loan from the Saints.

"This season for Mubama needs to be that season for Shea Charles," Blackmore said.

"It needs to be the time that he grows up, steps up, handles men's football. If he gets it right, he's got bags of talent, so I think it's a good gamble from Saints."

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Southampton and one-time England defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 24, is a target for Portuguese giants Benfica. (Daily Mail, external)

Derby remain keen on bringing 27-year-old Chile international Ben Brereton Diaz back to Pride Park from the Saints. (John Percy, external)

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Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis has emerged as a target for Portuguese club Benfica, who are willing to offer £17m for the 24-year-old Englishman. (Sun), external

For more EFL transfer news, check out Wednesday's full gossip column here.

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Leyton Orient have signed Southampton forward Nick Oyekunle in a season-long loan deal.

The 19-year-old scored 10 goals in 15 Under-21 games for Sainst season and also made four senior appearances for Saints.

Oyekunle has been capped by England Under-18s, making his debut against Morocco in May last year.

Head coach Richie Wellens told the Orient website, external: "Nick is aggressive in his press, his movement is strong, he is always opening his body up to be moving towards the goal and his finishing is very impressive.

"Now he needs to step up to a men's level and we think he has chosen the right club to do that."

Dan George & Adam Blackmore
BBC Sport, Hampshire

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Young Southampton midfielder Romeo Akachukwu said that scoring his first senior goal for the club meant "the world" to him.

The 20-year-old added a second for Saints on Saturday against Colchester as they won away from home to progress to the second round of the Carabao Cup.

He latched onto a pass from Finn Azaz before cutting inside and finishing on his left foot into the far corner.

"It means the world really," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"I scored already in pre-season and I knew that if I kept getting into good spaces and pockets, then the chances would keep coming.

"I work on my finishing in training, so it's nice to see my work paying off. I hit the ground running in Eastleigh, so hopefully I can keep continuing this."

Akachukwu has played 50 times for Southampton's U21's side, scoring 11 times.

He impressed and scored during Saints' first pre-season game against Eastleigh in July and joined the squad through the rest of their training camp in Germany.

"I've had conversations with the manager about this season," Akachukwu added.

"He just wants me to keep working, and you never know what's around the corner, and injuries could happen elsewhere in the team.

"It's important that I keep my head down, stay patient and keep working. We all know the quality that we have in this team, and I'm more than happy to learn behind those boys, and when I get my chance, like today, just continue to take it."

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Southampton have reached a verbal agreement to sign 21-year-old striker Divin Mubama on loan from Manchester City and the Englishman is awaiting the final green light from the Premier League club to complete the move. (Fabrizio Romano), external

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

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Dan George & Adam Blackmore
BBC Sport, Hampshire

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Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has praised the professionalism of midfielder Shea Charles amid talk of him leaving the club.

Fulham have now agreed a deal worth up to £30m for the 22-year-old who - subject to a medical - will become the most expensive Northern Irish footballer of all time.

Charles joined Saints in 2023 and made 76 appearances during his time at St Mary's, scoring six goals.

On Saturday he was an unused substitute against Colchester United in the EFL Cup and afterwards was seen applauding the fans on his own in what appeared to be a farewell gesture.

"It's not a secret that there have been some conversations going on," Eckert told BBC Radio Solent.

"The only thing that I can say is that Shea has been so professional with all of the noise around him, especially for a young player it's not easy.

"His behaviour has been extraordinary and I told this to him that it's not normal, especially if you look left and right how other players can react if there is some noise about them.

"He's been extraordinary in the way that he's presented himself and let's see what the next days bring."

Last season in particular saw Charles step up as a key member of the team, scoring all six of his Saints goals across the campaign, including some memorable strikes.

His late winners against Leicester and Arsenal will not be forgotten in a hurry by the Southampton fans.

Neither will his stoppage-time winner against Middlesbrough in the second leg of their play-off semi-final which at the time looked to have booked Saints a date at Wembley, only to be banned from facing Hull City.

Image source, Getty Images

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