SAINT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS

Strachan amazed by Eckert effect

- BY FELIX KEITH

GORDON STRACHAN admitted his mind has been blown by Southampton’s amazing turnaround under Tonda Eckert.

The Saints are pushing for three trips to Wembley in the space of a month, starting with today’s FA Cup semifinal showdown with Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Few would have put money on that when the Championship side appointed their Under-21 coach as the new manager after Will Still was sacked in November.

Back then, Southampton were just one place above the drop zone.

Now under Eckert, 33, they are brimming with confidence, rising up to fourth place on the back of a 20-game unbeaten streak and a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the previous round.

Strachan managed Saints between 2001 and 2004 and has been delighted by his former clubs revival - a year on from being one of the worst teams in Premier League history.

He said: “It’s kind of mind-blowing. A couple of months ago you were going, ‘Jesus, what a state they're in; and then suddenly all of this started.