HEAD coach Tonda Eckert labelled Taylor Harwood-Bellis “a different player” from the one who played in the Premier League last season.
The 24 year old centre-back was imperious as Saints limited Premier League Fulham at Craven Cottage, securing a 1-0 win in the FA Cup fifth round.
Harwood-Bellis was named skipper for the match by boss Eckert, having emerged as a leader in the dressing room during the recent unbeaten run.
The one-cap England international was named man of the match, partnering with Nathan Wood as Jack Stephens was given a full weekend’s rest.
On Harwood-Bellis, Eckert said: “I had a small conversation with him on the morning walk today. I think that he’s on a journey at the moment.
“I’ve seen a lot of him in the last year in the Premier League, and I think that he’s a different player by now. He’s growing, he’s taking responsibility.
“I think at his age, there aren’t many players who have already played this amount of games. He’s just become more and more mature.
“The boys look up to him, so it was an easy decision to name him. We didn’t give Fulham too much today. Obviously, there will always be some moments.
“It’s a quality team and probably one of the best managers that you will find in the game. They find moments where they can exploit you.
“You will always have one or two moments on a set piece that you will have to defend, but we didn’t give too much away on open play.”
Skipper Harwood-Bellis had an indirect role in Ross Stewart’s winning goal, scored from the penalty spot in the first minute of six added on.
“We had two penalty takers assigned,” said Eckert. “They were not on the pitch anymore, both of them, and it was quite clear who would take.
“Roscoe asked me, and then Taylor asked me if Ross should take, and I said yes, of course. I had no doubt that Ross would score the goal.”
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