Cyle Larin once again demonstrated why Southampton manager Tonda Eckert regards him as the premier marksman in the Championship, netting two goals in a 5-1 rout that ended Millwall's flawless opening to the campaign. The match began with Mark Sykes giving the Saints an early advantage, but Larin’s brace, combined with Finn Azaz’s easy finish, Leo Scienza’s spot‑kick and Tom Fellows’ inaugural goal for the club, turned the tie into a one‑sided affair. The Canadian forward has now found the back of the net four times in the first three league fixtures, taking his season tally to 12 goals from 19 Championship appearances – a striking return that underscores his importance to the team.
Southampton also erased the four‑point penalty imposed for the infamous "Spygate" incident, while Millwall suffered their first defeat of the season. Alex Neil’s side entered the game atop the table and, during the opening quarter‑hour, displayed the form that had earned them consecutive opening‑day victories. Early on, Tairyk Arconte forced a save from Millwall keeper Daniel Peretz, and Josh Coburn’s header went wide, but the pressure soon paid off. Sykes capitalised on a half‑clearance at the edge of the box, driving the ball home after a slight deflection.
It marked the Irish midfielder’s first goal for Southampton since joining on a free transfer from Bristol City over the summer. The hosts then began to dominate every facet of play.
Ryan Manning’s short corner rattled a post, and the momentum shifted in the 25th minute when Larin met Manning’s deep free‑kick with a powerful strike, restoring parity and keeping his perfect league‑scoring record intact. Thirteen minutes later, Scienza displayed his dribbling prowess, slipping past Jake Cooper, sprinting to the byline, lofting a precise pass over goalkeeper Max Crocombe and setting up Azaz for an unmissable tap‑in. Millwall threatened to pull level before the break when Kyrell Lisbie struck the post after Arconte released him on a swift counter‑attack, highlighting the narrow margin that could have altered the narrative.
The second half began with the re‑introduction of James Ward‑Prowse, whose presence lifted the home crowd. A penalty was awarded after Cooper fouled Azaz inside the box; Scienza stepped up and calmly slotted the spot‑kick, extending the lead. The most spectacular goal arrived in the 62nd minute. Larin, displaying his aerial ability, lifted the ball over Cooper’s head before meeting it with a clean volley from the edge of the area, sending the ball into the bottom corner.
He was on course for a hat‑trick, but a resilient Crocombe – who had been drafted in for the injured Lukas Jensen – managed to block the final attempt, keeping the score at five. Tom Fellows added a sixth strike, celebrating his one‑year anniversary at St Mary’s by finishing past Crocombe, sealing a comfortable victory and marking Southampton’s twelfth unbeaten home league game.
The result not only reinforced the Saints’ attacking credentials but also demonstrated their depth, with multiple players contributing to the scoreboard. After the match, Tonda Eckert praised his side’s resilience: "It doesn’t hurt to have some points on the board. We are chasing. We knew we needed to chase this season and we have shown we are capable of doing that.
That second finish from Larin is just class. There are some things you do as a striker when you are full of confidence that you don’t do when you aren’t.
He is able and willing to take responsibility for the team. There is so much he does off the pitch that isn’t seen publicly, which makes him invaluable. There was a chance for a hat‑trick, but he didn’t take it…so I took him off!" Millwall manager Alex Neil expressed his disappointment: "I thought it was a strange game in that we were very good for 25 minutes. We took the lead and should have scored another while we were on top.
The goals were so poor from our point of view. We lacked the resilience and grit we usually show in the final 20 minutes.
I am bitterly disappointed at how the game ended up." The match also featured promotional tie‑ins, reminding fans to watch free Championship highlights on their phones and to try the Super 6 competition for a chance at a £250,000 prize. Overall, Southampton’s comprehensive victory highlighted their attacking depth, tactical flexibility, and the impact of key players like Larin, while Millwall will need to regroup after their first setback of the season.