The FA Cup semi-finalists continued their Championship charge as they thrashed Wrexham 5-1 to replace the Welsh side in the table’s top six.
The in-form Saints raced ahead with early goals from Kuryu Matsuki and Flynn Downes, having already hit the woodwork twice earlier in the tie.
Wrexham pulled one back through Josh Windass but a breakaway strike from Cyle Larin and late goals from Ross Stewart and Finn Azaz sealed it.
The win was their 10th in an unbeaten sequence of 13 league games, and, now sitting sixth, Eckert’s side looks to be timing their form superbly.
“It was important for us to kick off Championship football again. It’s been some time since the last game,” said Eckert, speaking after the match.
A couple of moments that could have altered the direction of that game but ultimately it was comprehensive from Saints. That’s 16 games unbeaten now, I haven’t checked the maths but just need to win the FA Cup and Community Shield to match the club record?#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/PmbA25thdK
— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) April 7, 2026
“It feels like forever if you have to wait a little bit longer, and we needed to make sure that we kick-started. The boys have done that very well.
“It’s an excellent pitch here, I think the conditions were excellent for playing a great game. We knew we needed to take control early on in the game.
“I think we’ve done this, especially in the first 20 or 25 minutes. We have full control. You know that you will have some moments you need to overcome.
“We knew that if we stayed and worked in our structure, we would get some transition moments that we needed to put to bed in the second half.
“I think the boys have done that very well. We’ve come a lot closer together in general as a team, as a football club, and it makes things a lot easier.”
Saints were frustrated that referee Gavin Ward did not rule out Wrexham’s goal for a Kieffer Moore foul on Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the build-up.
Asked about the decision, Eckert said: “I think it’s very questionable how we concede that goal. I’ve told them [the officials] my opinion on it.”
Eckert made six changes to his team that beat Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday, just three days before the crucial play-off six-pointer in Wales.
“We have so much quality in the squad, and the games that we played on Saturday was not just physically demanding, but also mentally,” said Eckert.
“We had two suspended players back, and I think it helped us a lot that we had some freshness in the team.”
One of those changes saw defender Nathan Wood, who was excellent against the Gunners, replaced by club captain and squad leader Jack Stephens.
Eckert explained: “Stevo has been excellent for a long time, very consistent, but he got a little knock on the Monday session before we played Arsenal.
“We just didn’t want to take the risk on Saturday. But I think Woody was excellent against Fulham in the cup too, he’s been spot-on every single time.”