Eckert: We must grind these video games out

Tonda Eckert was left ruing Southampton’s lack of ability to place the sport to mattress after seeing Lincoln rescue a share of the factors with a late equaliser at ProAmpac Stadium.

Saints needed to stand as much as a bodily battle on the house of final season’s League One champions, however edged in entrance on the stroke of half time by means of Welington’s elegant 30-yard strike that flew into the highest nook.

The guests then loved whole management for a lot of the second interval, however have been unable to seek out the all-important second purpose, as Leo Scienza noticed a shot hit each posts and by some means keep out earlier than the hosts equalised by means of towering substitute Mikkel Ladefoged with three minutes to go.

“The game was more or less how we expected,” Eckert mirrored. “It was clear that balls were going to be coming into our last line from everywhere, and it was about how quickly we could get them down for second balls.

“I think that was better throughout the game. It was a little bit too open in the first half but we managed to go 1-0 up, and I think there was a long spell in the second half when we needed to score the second one.

“The reality is that if it stays a one-goal game, you know it’s going to get tough towards the end. We need to find a way to grind these games out.”

Coming up towards such direct opponents, Eckert felt the important thing to counteracting Lincoln’s aerial risk was to handle the ball on the bottom – one thing he feels Saints didn’t do effectively sufficient on the day.

“We struggled a little bit to bring the ball down,” he added. “Credit to Lincoln, but I think we need to be better on the ball. If you go 1-0 up in a game like this, you need to make sure you take three points home.”

Saints return house on Tuesday eighth September, as Swansea City go to St Mary’s within the Sky Bet Championship (7.45pm BST). Tickets are on basic sale now, priced from £20 for Adults and £10 for Under-18s.

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