MATCH PREVIEW: SOUTHAMPTON (A)

2 January 2020

Everything you need to know ahead of Southampton vs Town

- Preview ahead of Southampton vs Town
- All the info on Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side
- Tickets still available for the game

Huddersfield Town travel to Southampton on Saturday 4 January 2020 in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round at St. Mary’s Stadium; 3.01pm kick-off.

The Terriers go into Saturday’s game off the back of a home defeat to Stoke City after a tough Christmas period.

Danny Cowley’s side will be looking to get back to winning ways when they take on a different challenge in the form of Premier League side Southampton.

Huddersfield Town’s Emirates FA Cup run finished in the Third Round last time round, when Bristol City’s Josh Brownhill scored in the 72nd minute.

The two sides last met in May 2019, when both teams took a point each at St Mary’s Stadium thanks to goals from Nathan Redmond and Town’s Alex Pritchard.

Southampton will be looking to expand their current unbeaten run across all competitions, they’re currently four unbeaten in the Premier League after a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on New Year’s Day.

THE OPPOSITION

Ahead of Saturday’s game, the Saints sit 12th in the Premier League with 25 points.

Ralph Hasenhüttl.jpg

Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side have had mixed results so far this season, with seven wins, four draws and 10 losses.

Wins over Chelsea and Tottenham, alongside draws with Manchester United, Wolves and Arsenal show that Southampton are a team able to adapt to their opponents playing style.

Southampton currently have the fourth worst home record in the Premier League this season, with three wins, two draws and six losses.

ONES TO WATCH

James Ward-Prowse

The 25-year-old has been with Southampton since the age of eight, when he joined the Southampton Academy. He made his full debut for the First Team at the age of 16 against Crystal Palace in the League Cup. So far this season he’s made 21 starts, had two assists, scored four goals and worn the Captain’s armband for the Saints’ games against Burnley and Everton.

James Ward-Prowse.jpg

Nathan Redmond

The midfielder signed a five-year contract for Southampton ahead of their 2016/17 campaign. He signed a new contract ahead of this season, extending his stay with the Club until the summer of 2023. He’s started 19 times for the Saints and found the bag of the net twice so far during their 2019/20 campaign.

Nathan Redmond.jpg

Danny Ings

The forward joined Southampton on loan in August 2018, with the loan becoming permanent in July 2019. He scored his first goal for the Saints on his debut in a 2-1 defeat to Everton in the same month. He’s been a mainstay of Hasenhüttl’s starting XI so far this season and is top scorer for the Saints with 15 goals to his name.

Danny Ings.jpg

TEAM NEWS - TOWN

Tommy Elphick (knee), Alex Pritchard (knee), Collin Quaner (hip) and Elias Kachunga (ankle) were all unavailable for the Stoke game.

Jonathan Hogg is available to play for Town on Saturday as his two game suspension only applies to Sky Bet Championship games.

TEAM NEWS – SOUTHAMPTON

Yan Valery (viral infection) hasn’t featured for the Saints this month and is unlikely to make an appearance on Saturday due to an ongoing illness.

TICKETS

Tickets are still on sale – CLICK HERE to get yours now and come and cheer on the Terriers!

Tickets will be available from the John Smiths Stadium Ticket Office until 12 noon tomorrow.

Pay on the day is available at the St Mary's Stadium on Saturday, but there will be a price increase.

SUPPORTER INFORMATION

If you’re travelling to St. Mary’s, CLICK HERE for an away fan guide!

KIT

Town will be wearing their navy kit at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday – CLICK HERE to buy yours ahead of the game!

Please note that there are limited sizes available.

Match Reports

REPORT: SOUTHAMPTON 2-0 TOWN

4 January 2020

Emirates FA Cup campaign ends against Premier League side

Town’s Emirates FA Cup campaign ended at the Third Round stage against Premier League side Southampton at St Mary’s, with two second-half goals setting a game of few real chances.

The Terriers’ discipline frustrated the home team and supporters at times and, on the break, the Terriers created a handful of very presentable chances.

Unfortunately, Fraizer Campbell, Juninho Bacuna and Christopher Schindler couldn’t convert them, whereas Will Smallbone and Jake Vokins did for the hosts.

Danny Cowley named a strong side to face the Saints, with three changes made from the previous league fixture - giving Karlan Grant, Kamil Grabara and Steve Mounié a rest.

It took almost half an hour for the first big moment to come, and it was Town on the attack despite Southampton’s majority of possession. Centre back Vestergaard gave away the pass with a sloppy pass in the centre circle and Lewis O’Brien pounced, dinking a pass into Campbell’s path. He had Lewis as an option for the return pass, but Fraizer instead took aim from 20 yards – and fired over the bar.

Southampton responded, with a poor clearance from goalkeeper Joel Coleman allowing the ball to be quickly worked towards winger Rathbone. He skipped past Jonathan Hogg on his way infield but fired well over on his left when slightly off balance.

Defender Danso put a powerful header over the bar from James Ward-Prowse’s corner as the half ticked by before it looked like his side had gone ahead through Shane Long. VAR was in operation for this tie and ruled that the Irishman had just strayed beyond the defensive line in collecting the pass, ruling out the strike.

As the half looked to be ending, Town created their best chance of the game. Southampton were calling for a penalty on Boufal as the away side broke away, with Flo Hadergjonaj leading the charge from his right wing position. His low cross evaded three in the penalty area before falling perfectly to Bacuna, but he placed his first-time effort too close to the goalkeeper.

Unfortunately, the second half started in the worst fashion when Southampton took an early second half lead. A big, looping cross from the right from Danso was nodded back across goal by experienced striker Long and Smallbone was given too much space in the box to volley home.

Coleman believed the initial cross had gone dead, but a quick VAR check proved it hadn’t.

Town kept their discipline and should have drawn level 10 minutes later. Hadergjonaj was fouled by Boufal on the right, allowing Bacuna to swing an excellent free kick towards the near post for Christopher Schindler. He connected with a first-time volley but sent the ball just wide of target with the Town fans ready to celebrate.

Stanković volleyed wide and substitute Karlan Grant had a volley blocked by Cedric after some lovely work from the impressive Trevoh Chalobah as Cowley’s side searched for a way back into the game, but the match was settled in spectacular fashion with a few minutes left when left back Jake Vokins crashed a volley in off the crossbar, with the ball having clipped the heals of birthday boy Danny Simpson on route.

Town’s team (4-5-1)
Joel Coleman; Jaden Brown, Jon Gorenc Stanković, Christopher Schindler (c), Danny Simpson; Juninho Bacuna (Karlan Grant, 65’), Lewis O’Brien (Josh Koroma, 82’), Jonathan Hogg, Trevoh Chalobah, Florent Hadergjonaj; Fraizer Campbell (Steve Mounié, 61’)

Unused substitutes
Ryan Schofield; Kian Harratt, Matty Daly, Scott High

Standings