Southampton Football Club produced a stunning 5-1 victory over Championship leaders Millwall this week, a result that lifts them out of negative points. The emphatic win at St Mary's was followed by the official confirmation of James Ward-Prowse's emotional return to the club.
Millwall took a surprise early lead through a deflected Mark Sykes strike. Southampton responded strongly, with Cyle Larin heading in a Ryan Manning free-kick to level the scores. Finn Azaz then completed the first-half turnaround, capitalising on a mazy run and cross from Leo Scienza to put Saints ahead.
The second half saw Southampton extend their dominance. Azaz won a penalty which Scienza converted, before Larin scored a spectacular second goal, flicking the ball over a defender and volleying home. Tom Fellows added a late fifth to complete the rout. The victory moves Southampton up to 17th place with two points, having started the season on minus four.
Saints boss Tonda Eckert told reporters that the performance showed there is more to come from his side. "We've seen in moments of the game how good we can be," Eckert said. He emphasised the need for recovery before focusing on the next challenge.
Millwall manager Alex Neil was left frustrated by his team's reaction to conceding. "For 25 minutes, I thought we were excellent," Neil told reporters. "I was surprised how much their first goal seemed to set us back, which I don't understand. We normally go again." He identified a lack of clinical edge as a key factor in the heavy defeat.
The club announced the signing of James Ward-Prowse from West Ham United on a two-year contract. The 31-year-old midfielder rejoins the club where he spent 20 years, making 410 senior appearances before his departure in 2023. Ward-Prowse described the return as "surreal" and "special," calling Southampton home.
Group Sporting Director Johannes Spors said the player adds "huge value both on and off the pitch." His experience and set-piece quality are seen as major assets for Eckert's squad as they look to build on their positive result. Fans can see the full squad details on our squad page.
This result provides a massive confidence boost ahead of a busy period. The club finished 4th in the Championship last season with 80 points from 46 games. Their next fixture is a trip to face Birmingham City, who are 10th in the table.
Last season's campaign saw Southampton score 82 goals while conceding 56, giving them a healthy +26 goal difference. They ended the 2025 season 15 points behind champions Coventry City. The immediate focus is now on preparing for the Birmingham match and integrating Ward-Prowse back into the fold.
