Peter Beagrie heaped praise on Nigel Adkins after Southampton sealed their Premier League return.
Adkins has fostered a positive environment at Saints, says Beags
Peter Beagrie told
Sky Sports that Southampton's attacking philosophy was the key behind their promotion to the Premier League.
The Saints, who did not drop out of the Championship's top two all season, beat Coventry 4-0 at St Mary's on the final day of the campaign to secure a return to the top flight after a seven-year absence.
Read our match report here
The Hampshire-based side, promoted from League One 12 months ago, netted 85 goals this term and Beagrie says Southampton boss Nigel Adkins deserves terrific credit for producing such an enterprising style of play.
"Southampton have finished it off in style," said the
Sky Sports pundit, who named midfield orchestrator Adam Lallana as the Saints' star man this campaign.
"They have gone forward and scored goals all season and woe betide anyone who leaked goals at the back because they have punished them. They have been brilliant.
"If you get the ball on the floor and have quality players you can go through the divisions. They have great individuals but when you've got that, you've got to create an environment for them to flourish.
"That is exactly what he [Nigel Adkins] has done. He is a great guy, so positive and wants to play football in the right manner."
Astute
Beagrie continued: "I thought they would struggle defensively but Jos Hooiveld has played well with [fellow centre-back] Jose Fonte and the full-backs [Danny Butterfield and Danny Fox], and in Kelvin Davis they have had the outstanding 'keeper in the division.
"The signings Nigel has made have also been astute. They looked to have a plethora of striking talent but he brought in Billy Sharp at the right time [during the January transfer window] and he has taken the pressure off the likes of Rickie Lambert and Lallana.
"You are judged on your signings and Nigel's have been top drawer."
Southampton edged West Ham to the second automatic promotion spot, meaning that the Hammers - who beat Hull 2-1 on the final day of the regular season - will have to win the play-offs to join the Saints and Championship winners Reading in the Premier League next term.
Click here for more on West Ham's victory over Hull
The Londoners, who will face Cardiff in the semi-finals, won only 11 of their 23 league matches at Upton Park this campaign.
But former Irons boss Alan Curbishley is optimistic that the club can earn immediate promotion back to the elite division.
"They are heading into the play-offs in good form. They are favourites because of their away form and, no disrespect to Cardiff, but if they get it right at Upton Park, they should get to the final," he said.
"It's set up nicely and if they could go to Cardiff and get some sort of result, it would be some night back here (at Upton Park)."
West Ham and Cardiff will be joined in the play-offs by Birmingham and Blackpool, who finished fourth and fifth in the Championship table respectively.
