Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterThis afternoon, two clubs with a fierce rivalry will do battle against the backdrop of one of English footballs most shocking cases of cheating in recent memory.One set of fans will relish the opportunity to remind their opponents that they are morally corrupt - perhaps in slightly different words - while the other will stand in defiance behind their club, despite their shattered reputation.But this isnt about Liverpools clash with Manchester City, who play their first game since they were found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules. This is about Southamptons derby against Portsmouth and one man in particular: Saints manager Tonda Eckert.Tonda Eckert's Spygate ruling comes at the perfect time for SouthamptonClearly, the Spygate scandal that saw Southampton expelled from last seasons Championship play-offs is nowhere near the same level of severity as the case involving City, who continue to deny any wrongdoing and have appealed the verdict.But the strength of feeling between the two sets of fans at St Marys today will certainly match - and probably exceed - the hostility at Anfield. You may like Southampton want to show the entertaining side of Tonda Eckert in Championship promotion chase Manchester City should be heavily punished - but your team does NOT deserve free trophies Watch Southampton vs Portsmouth for FREE: Live Streams The South Coast derby comes four days after Eckert escaped serious punishment for his role in Spygate, following an FA hearing last month.An independent commission handed the Saints manager a six-week ban from all football and football-related activity, suspended until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, as well as a �28,000 fine and a reprimand, after he admitted that he directed and/or authorised the observation of training sessions of three Championship opponents - Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough - last season.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The Boro incident occurred 48 hours before the sides met in the first leg of their play-off semi-final in May, when Southampton intern Will Salt was caught filming Kim Hellbergs team and the story quickly became headline news.Having beaten Middlesbrough over two legs, Saints were then expelled from the play-offs by the EFL and received a four-point deduction that came into effect this season. The club were denied a play-off final against Hull City and the potential �200m windfall that comes with promotion to the Premier League, but the strong punishment sent a clear message: spying on opponents is not worth the risk.Everyone at Southampton, including players and fans, paid for the actions of a few members of staff. Eckert also suffered considerable reputational damage, but it seems inexplicable that the man who took ultimate responsibility for Spygate will not miss a single game considering that managers receive touchline bans for back-chatting to referees. What to read next Design your own Manchester City punishment - FourFourTwo plays judge and jury on 114 charges guilty verdict HENRY WINTER: Michael Carrick is hurting at Manchester United but Pro Ref error is only partly to blame Manchester City saw guilty verdict coming and made sure any transfer ban will be useless The 33-year-old was described as an exceptionally impressive witness by the independent commission and expressed genuine contrition for his actions. That may be true, but it doesnt absolve him of blame.The independent commission initially recommended a four-month ban from football, while the FA requested three months. But after applying various mitigations, including Eckerts remorse, the impact on his career prospects and the knock-on effect for the club and the fans, it was reduced to this pathetic suspended sentence that he will ultimately never serve, as he will surely not make the same mistake again.The verdict dilutes the message sent in May by the EFL, opening the door for managers to escape serious punishment in the event of another Spygate if they plead their case well. It also emboldens Southampton in their belief that they were harshly treated when they were kicked out of the play-offs.That attitude was clear in the clubs statement responding to the verdict, in which owner Dragan Solak said: The FA process has been a positive experiencethe same cannot be said for the EFL process, and the way they have subsequently treated us is not something we will forget.Eight minutes after the statement was published, Saints posted a video on social media of Eckert celebrating with fans after a game, captioned Just dont think you understand - lyrics from the terrace chant sung up and down the country. It felt unnecessarily triumphalist on the back of an embarrassing episode for the club.In many ways, the verdict could not have come at a better time for Southampton. The South Coast derby is the biggest game of the two clubs respective seasons and Saints are aiming to end a winless league run against Portsmouth that stretches back to 2004.The atmosphere will be highly-charged regardless, but it will go up another couple of notches when Eckert walks out of the tunnel and receives a heros welcome. Southampton fans would have feared the impact of the German being banned days before facing their arch-rivals, so his presence on the touchline will feel like a victory.They now know they have one of the brightest young managers in the country leading them for the rest of this season, which not only brings obvious benefits on the pitch but also a psychological boost, as they would have feared months of uncertainty if Eckert was banned.Similarly, do not be surprised if the siege mentality demonstrated in Solaks statement lasts beyond this weekend. Southampton clearly believe they were unfairly denied their shot at promotion last season and many - but not all - supporters will feel the same way. It is not hard to imagine Saints framing this seasons bid to reach the Premier League as two fingers up to the EFL.Southampton do not need any extra help in their promotion push. Eckert is a talented manager and has some of the best players in the league at his disposal, including Daniel Peretz, Leo Scienza and Cyle Larin.They were strong favourites to win last seasons play-offs before the Spygate saga and would start this weekend fourth in the Championship without the points deduction. Even accounting for those lost points, Saints should finish comfortably inside the top eight and are likely to challenge for the top two.Now, thanks to the failure to sufficiently punish Eckert, they have another edge in the promotion battle - and that feels wrong.TOPICSSouthamptonChampionshipJames RobertsFreelance writerJames Roberts is a freelance sports journalist working for FourFourTwo and other titles. He started his career at the Oxford Mail, where he covered Oxford United home and away, before becoming a sports sub-editor for various national newspapers.
