SAINTS head coach Tonda Eckert insisted he had no doubt Cam Archer could deliver the performance he did against Blackburn Rovers.
The 24 year old scored the third goal in a 3-0 win on Tuesday, having set up the opener, before being named man of the match at St Mary's.
Archer recieved a standing ovation when he was withdrawn moments after his goal, with even the Saints analysts joining in.
Eckert felt the striker, who played out wide, deserved his moment celebrating with the fans following full-time.
"Sometimes for a striker, it's not so easy. You always get judged on goals, and obviously that's your job as a striker, I do understand that," he said.
Cam Archer was excellent this evening. A real threat on the left and deserved his goal. The best we’ve seen him play in a Saints shirt. #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/N56ejZkh2Z
— George Rees-Julian (@rees_julian) April 14, 2026
"I think with him, there was always no doubt about his application to the game. Sometimes things fall onto you a little bit easier as a striker, and you start rolling.
"He has deserved that, and he works hard for the team, so hard for the club, and I think that was a very nice moment.
"It's prime time now, there's no excuse. There's no excuse for me and the way I prepare the games; there's no excuse for the boys in terms of performing.
"That's the part of the season now, and everyone is aware of that."
Archer was starting for the first time since Southampton's 2-0 win over Oxford United, when he also featured out on the left wing.
Eckert remains confident that the former Aston Villa prospect has a future as a striker, but admitted Saints can play to his strengths out wide.
"He delivered against Oxford as well. I think that's normal if you look at the path of a player," he added. "He's very ambitious for his career.
"It's a very positive thing that he wishes for more minutes and is very natural. Then nights like this come out, and I think he deserves that very much.
"He can play as a number nine. Generally, when spaces do open up, it's not easy to find players with the qualities he has.
"Sometimes, in the way that we set up against teams that are a little bit lower, it's nice to have him play next to a target player, next to the nine.
"He can do both. Today, we wanted to use him more for the left side, especially with the way they press and where they might give us spaces.
"Later on, we switched him over; actually, he scored his goal when he went over to the right. Overall, a very, very good game from him."
