Tonda Eckert names Derby County star he fears the most ahead of St. Mary's clash

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert praises Derby forward Carlton Morris ahead of the crucial playoff decider against the Rams.

Southampton’s Championship matchday against Derby County leads them into a series of relatively easier opponents. While games like Blackburn and Swansea will offer the chance to extend their grip on a playoff spot, the Derby tie is a must‑win.

Recently, forward Cyle Larin echoed the fan expectations as he looked ahead to the massive game. Boss Tonda Eckert has been seen sharing the same intent as he underlined the severity of this test for their promotion hopes.

Eckert emphasised the importance of the six‑pointer, noting the tactical details that could influence the tie. As quoted by the Daily Echo, he said: “I think it’s a massive game tomorrow. They’ve changed a bit in January when they went from a back three to four. I think they have one of the best strikers in the league. A very good team.”

Tonda Eckert names Carlton Morris as a major threat

One of the biggest talking points ahead of the Southampton vs Derby matchday is the Rams’ injury crisis. They already had Rhian Brewster ruled out, and forward Patrick Agyemang’s Achilles tendon injury this week has left them missing multiple players up front.

Factor in Ben Brereton Díaz’s unavailability against his parent club, and Derby’s attack is effectively reduced to Carlton Morris. Despite this, Tonda Eckert still regards their attacking prowess highly, and Morris’s season‑long performances explain why.

Morris has 11 goals in just 26 appearances this season. Despite missing more than a third of the campaign through injury, the Derby star still features on the top scorer list due to his effectiveness in front of goal.

Beyond his aerial threat, Morris excels at hold‑up play, linking well with teammates Bobby Clark, Joe Ward, and others. His recent performance against Stoke City demonstrated it perfectly, as he single‑handedly influenced the Rams’ victory with a goal and an assist.

If the threat from Carlton Morris wasn’t enough, Derby have received a major boost ahead of the Southampton matchday. Injured midfielder Sammie Szmodics was recently seen back in training and is expected to play a part in this crucial game.

Effectively, Derby’s attack has gone from relying on Patrick Agyemang and Rhian Brewster to Carlton Morris and Sammie Szmodics. Saints loanee Brereton Díaz remains a miss, and it will be interesting to see if Southampton can use that advantage.

Eckert is apt in pointing out Derby’s mid-season transformation

Southampton’s upcoming tie against Derby is, in principle, a rematch of the 1‑1 draw from earlier this season. But a lot has changed for both sides since they met in October 2025.

The goal scorers from that game, Adam Armstrong and Patrick Agyemang, are not participating. And while Derby dropped points against a 20th‑placed Southampton back then, the Saints now enter this playoff decider as clear favourites.

Beyond those changes, Tonda Eckert has pinpointed a key tactical tweak in Derby’s formation.

Derby boss John Eustace stuck with a three‑man backline for much of the first half of the season. While the Rams had decent results with that system, their mid‑season switch to a back four has turned their trajectory around.

Since the change, Derby have drastically reduced the number of draws. Apart from a few defeats, the Rams have won most of their games, climbing from 13th position to the 8th spot after the tactical tweak.

A closer look explains Derby’s transformation. Moving from a 3‑4‑1‑2 to a 4‑2‑3‑1 has given the Rams another attacking option. With Brereton Díaz’s prominence on the right flank, Derby have emerged as one of the best teams in recent weeks.

It’s worth noting that Díaz’s unavailability, along with other injuries, could force John Eustace to adapt his system and surprise Southampton. That would add another layer of intrigue to this playoff decider.