April 14, 2026<\/a>\n <\/p>\n\n Having made 10 changes across the last two games, Eckert swapped out five players from the weekend’s 2-1 comeback win against Derby County.\n<\/p>\n
\n Cam Bragg, Shea Charles, Kuryu Matsuki, Cameron Archer and Larin started. There was no Finn Azaz at all, while other key men were on the bench.\n<\/p>\n
\n It was a Saints reunion pre-match, with Steven Davis amongst the Blackburn staff, Nathan Redmond starting for them, and Shane Long pitchside.\n<\/p>\n
\n Blackburn came into the game unbeaten in five matches, with Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill installing a disciplined style at Ewood Park.\n<\/p>\n
\n No team in the Championship has seen fewer goals for or against in their games this season, with a flat back-five system likely contributing to that.\n<\/p>\n
\n Two of their players had been booked inside seven minutes, both for fouls on Charles, as Saints established their authority over the visitors from the start.\n<\/p>\n
\n Archer was lively on the left wing, Larin saw a header from a corner saved, and a centrally-deployed Matsuki hit the keeper from outside the area.\n<\/p>\n
\n Larin opened the scoring after 24 minutes, posting his fifth league goal since signing in January, and third in back-to-back-to-back league starts.\n<\/p>\n
\n But the beauty was in the creation, with Matsuki’s splitting pass playing Archer into the left channel, to perfectly lay across the six-yard box for Larin.\n<\/p>\n
\n Manning doubled the lead before half-time, although his seventh of the season will be looked at by the dubious goals panel for a potential own goal.\n<\/p>\n
\n The Irishman stabbed goalward first time after a Charles cross was cleared in his path, and a deflection from Harry Pickering took it inside the post.\n<\/p>\n
\n Saints were so comfortable that Blackburn did not even muster a shot in the first-half, and Eckert seized the opportunity to substitute James Bree.\n<\/p>\n
\n Blackburn managed a couple of attempts after the break, but they were both blocked, and Nathan Wood, on for Bree, superbly cut out another one.\n<\/p>\n
\n Matsuki blazed into Row Z from inside the area after Larin selflessly laid a chance on for him, and the looks on both of their faces told the full story.\n<\/p>\n
\n He should have scored, but it did not have any impact on the eventual result, though compatriot Ryoya Morishita thrashed a shot against the woodwork.\n<\/p>\n
\n Archer netted his first league goal since December in the 87th minute, with a composed drag low into the far corner, to make sure of all three points.\n<\/p>\n
\n Scienza got the assist after he was unleashed down the right wing by Charles, making a trademark cut inside before rolling the ball to Archer.\n<\/p>\n
\n Saints remain unbeaten in midweek fixtures under Eckert, and are now looking up at second-place Ipswich ahead of a head-to-head later this month.\n<\/p>\n
\n The jubilant home supporters cycled through chants before the final whistle, including ‘Tonda’s at the wheel’, and ‘Manchester City, we’re coming for you’.\n<\/p>\n
\n Saints: Peretz; Bree (Wood, h-t), Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning (Welington, 70); Bragg (Downes, 70), Charles, Fellows, Matsuki (Scienza, 70), Archer (Robinson, 88); Larin.\n<\/p>\n
\n Unused subs: Long, Jander, Edozie, Stewart.\n<\/p>\n
\n Booked: N\/A.\n<\/p>\n
\n Blackburn: T\u00f3th; Pickering (Cashin, 77), McLoughlin, Atcheson, Ribeiro, Gardner-Hickman, Baradji (Hedges, 72), Alebiosu (Morishita, h-t), Redmond (Ohashi, h-t), Montgomery, J\u00f8rgensen (Afolayan, 72).\n<\/p>\n
\n Unused subs: Pears, De Neve, O’Riordan, Joseph.\n<\/p>\n
\n Booked: McLoughlin, Gardner-Hickman.\n<\/p>\n
\n Referee: Josh Smith.\n<\/p>\n