Tonda Eckert, Southampton’s head coach, has responded to the pre-match Spygate dig by his team’s opponents, Wrexham, on Saturday afternoon.

Unsurprisingly, the aftermath from Saints’ antics, which surfaced during their play-off campaign in last season’s Championship, has resulted in various chants and parodies from opposing supporters and teams on social media and in the stadium.

The EFL penalised the South Coast side severely in May, excluding them from the play-off final at the expense of Middlesbrough after admitting to various rule violations, including’spying’ on Oxford United and Ipswich Town.

Southampton also entered the current season in unprecedented circumstances as a result of Spygate, receiving a four-point deduction at the start of the season, yet despite this, Eckert’s team were heavily tipped to make the play-offs.

Such a deficit has already been erased thanks to the club’s early-season success, but it remains to be seen if Eckert will be in command the other side of the international break.

Tonda Eckert answers to Wrexham’s viral Southampton, Spygate pre-match dig.

Southampton and Wrexham were several leagues away just a few years ago, but they are now both seen as possible Premier League promotion candidates.

The Red Dragons’ ascent from the National League to the Championship in three years has been well-documented, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac providing high-profile investment. They finished seventh last season.

Wrexham formed an off-season partnership with Firefox, an internet browser that also focuses in browsing security, and the firm became the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor.

While marketing the company, Reynolds and Mac used the chance to create a Spygate-style film that also mentioned Middlesbrough, Ipswich, and Oxford as a result of Southampton’s off-pitch misbehaviour.

When asked if he had viewed the clip before his team’s trip to North Wales, Eckert replied, “The players have watched it. I watched it last night. It doesn’t affect anything.You can understand that the entire scenario isn’t especially amusing for me, but I believe that’s all there is to say,” he continued.

Southampton fans respond to Wrexham’s Spygate social media dig.

Many Saints fans, including Eckert, were not amused by Wrexham’s social media shenanigans.”I can’t wait to put five past you again, cringey lot,” tweeted one Southampton fan.

Another commented, “Imagine your club’s owners doing this. It’s embarrassing.”

With Wrexham presently ten places below Eckert’s side, one Saints fan posted a picture of the league table and said, “Mind the gap, guys.” Perhaps you should spy; it could save your season.

“I’ll be back when Larin scores the fourth on Saturday,” said another fan who was displeased with the North Wales side’s tweet.

Meanwhile, other Wrexham supporters questioned the plan, with one comment reading: “Why are we writing Southampton’s team talk for them?”

Southampton will aim to talk on the pitch following the Wrexham sideshow.

Given the pre-match circus that has ensued, Southampton’s players are likely to be even more motivated in their pursuit of three points heading into the international break.

Although a definitive FA judgement on Eckert’s future is expected between now and the South Coast derby with Portsmouth on October 11th, the German can only control what happens on the pitch for the time being, and Saints have had a promising start to the season thus far.

Tonda Eckert’s record at Southampton as of September 18, 26

Matches

Win percentage %

47 29

10 8 62%

The aforementioned Larin has made a bold claim about the team’s strength while also beginning his own season on a high note, scoring seven goals in as many games.

And with as many goals in their last two games, Southampton will undoubtedly believe they have a good chance of repeating their overwhelming 5-1 victory at the Racecourse Ground in April, with Wrexham losing 6-0 to West Ham United on Friday.