I am trying to run a docker container from the Microsoft SQL Server Express image (https://hub.docker.com/r/microsoft/mssql-server-windows-express/)

For example I've tried the following commands (I'll use the -d flag once I've got it working)

docker run -it -p 1433:1433 -e SA_PASSWORD=Mfp_4871nJUj_1-23H -e ACCEPT_EULA=Y --name to_delete_1 microsoft/mssql-server-windows-express powershell.exe
docker run -it -p 1433:1433 -e 'SA_PASSWORD=Mfp_4871nJUj_1-23H' -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y' --name to_delete_1 microsoft/mssql-server-windows-express powershell.exe

(not the real password - I've tried many passwords since one of the suggestions for fixing the error I see below is to ensure that the password meets Microsoft's password policy. However for all passwords I get the same error)

I've also tried lower case sa_password

However, each time I try to connect with the sa account from within the container using any of

sqlcmd -U sa -P Mfp_4871nJUj_1-23H
sqlcmd -S localhost -U sa -P Mfp_4871nJUj_1-23H
sqlcmd -S localhost\sqlexpress -U sa -P Mfp_4871nJUj_1-23H
sqlcmd -U sa
sqlcmd -S localhost -U sa
sqlcmd -S localhost\sqlexpress -U sa

(entering password for last 3)

I get

Sqlcmd: Error: Microsoft ODBC Driver 13 for SQL Server : Login failed for user 'sa'..

Looking at the SQL Server logs it shows

2017-03-13 21:25:52.32 Logon       Error: 18456, Severity: 14, State: 7.
2017-03-13 21:25:52.32 Logon       Login failed for user 'sa'. Reason: An error occurred while evaluating the password. [CLIENT: 172.22.251.6]

The main advice is to ensure the password meets SQL Server's password criteria but I think all of the passwords I've tried do.

I run Docker on Windows 10 Enterprise (build 14393.693). I have Docker for Windows Version 17.03.0-ce-win1 (10300).

What do I need to do to be able to connect to SQL Server from within the container using the microsoft/mssql-server-windows-express Docker imamge?

Thanks