Southampton produced a scintillating performance to rout Wrexham 5-1 and leapfrog them into sixth in the Championship table.
Any fear of a hangover from their win over Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday was short-lived, as the Saints raced into a two-goal lead after early strikes from Kuryu Matzuki and Flynn Downes.
Josh Windass then pulled one back for Wrexham before the break at the Racecourse Ground, but any hopes of a comeback were stripped away as Cyle Larin added a third, before his replacement Ross Stewart headed in a Saints fourth. Finn Azaz provided a late fifth.
The win takes Southampton into the play-off places, two points clear of Wrexham in seventh with a game in hand. They are now just six points off Ipswich in second.
Southampton hit their stride with romp in North Wales
The win was Southampton’s 10th in an unbeaten sequence of 13 league games and, now sitting sixth, Eckert’s side look to be timing their run superbly.
Their intent was evident early on as Larin and Azaz both hit the bar in the eighth minute.
Larin was unlucky after meeting Ryan Manning’s cross with a deft header but Azaz should have done better than to plant the rebound against the woodwork.
Azaz quickly made up for that miss as he teed up the opener on 12 minutes by threading a fine ball through to Matsuki, who took a touch and slotted a shot past a wrong-footed Arthur Okonkwo.
Saints continued to control the game and doubled their lead 10 minutes later as Wrexham failed to clear a James Bree free-kick. The ball rolled out for Downes to thump home.
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Cyle Larin’s cool second-half finish restored Southampton’s two-goal lead over Wrexham
Wrexham then got one back as a long ball from Okonkwo was flicked on by Kieffer Moore and Windass produced a moment of class as he controlled and flicked past Jack Stephens to fire into the bottom corner.
Larin finally got the goal he had deserved after 61 minutes as he raced clear from halfway and calmly lifted over Okonkwo.
Wrexham were not quite beaten as Moore headed against the post from close range but Azaz struck an upright at the other end moments later.
Saints underlined their superiority nine minutes from time when Stewart headed in from a Welington free-kick and Azaz put the seal on victory two minutes later.
