Tom lost his 100% record this season so here's hoping I start with an away win! Barnsley will be without defender Jean-Yves Mvoto, who serves a one-game ban following his sending off at Blackburn. The Tykes may hand a debut to winger Paddy McCourt, who joined the club last week. Southampton could give a first start to record signing Daniel Osvaldo, who arrived from AS Roma this month. Midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is a fitness doubt and may not feature, while Luke Shaw has a knee problem which could prevent him from playing. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Southampton are unbeaten in their last five games against Barnsley. Saints are chasing a fourth consecutive win against the Tykes. Southampton won the only previous League Cup tie between the sides, winning a third round tie 2-1 at Oakwell in October 1997. Barnsley The Tykes were knocked out of the League Cup by Premier League opposition last season, losing 3-1 at Swansea in the second round. They have conceded 12 times in their four league games so far this season. Chris Dagnall has scored six times in his last seven appearances in the League Cup. Only Brighton (24) attempted more shots on goal in the first round than Barnsley (23). Southampton The 1979 runners-up were eliminated from the League Cup by Championship opposition last season, losing 3-0 at Leeds in the fourth round. It was their first defeat against lower league rivals in the League Cup since since a loss to Rotherham in 2008. Saints have drawn five of their last eight games (all in the Premier League), scoring just five goals. They have won four of their last five League Cup home ties, scoring 10 goals in the process. This is a good chance for us to have a cup run and it will be interesting to see what sort of side MP selects.
---------------------SKD-------------- Chamber-----Maya-----Hoover-------Fox ------------cork---------Davis-------- Rowe-----------gaston-------Mayuka --------------Rodruegez---------------- Subs: gazza Stephens clyne wanyama JWP guly isgrove Protect our starting 11, give maya a start. Give gaston a good run out. Try some youngsters but with guly and big vic on bench in case we need some experience/muscle.
---------------------Gazza-------------- Chambers-----Maya-----Hoover-------Fox ------------cork---------Davis-------- Isgrove---------Guly-------Mayuka --------------Osvaldo----- 3-2 victory....Mayuka, Osvaldo, Hooiveld
----------------------Gazza---------------- Chambers---Hoiveld----Yoshida---Fox ----------------Cork-------Davis---------- Rowe-------------Guly-------------Isgrove ------------------Mayuka------------------- Not our strongest team by any means, but a team good enough to give Barnsley a game, and one with a very good chance of winning. That is what the early rounds of these cups are about, picking a team strong enough to win that also gives your better players a bit of a rest
Barnsley's defence is terrible. This should be easy. Gazzaniga; Chambers, Yoshida, Stephens, Clyne; Rowe, Cork, Davis, Isgrove; Guly, Mayuka
I'll be amazed if Osvaldo starts. Too risky for me. Barnsley will wind him right up and get him red carded.
Nice interview from Jose. Such plans formed part of the exciting project sold to Fonte when he dropped down from Championship side Crystal Palace to join Saints in January 2010. "This was 100 per cent what I was promised," he sad. "I stepped down from the Championship, where I had offers from other clubs and there were rumours of something else. "When I came here, it was always with the thought of playing in the Premier League. "The chairman had a vision, had the resources and the ambition and it was an easy decision for me to come here. "I am just pleased that I managed to step my game up a little bit. I feel comfortable now and I am just happy to be part of this club, this team and I hope we can keep moving forward. "This has been a great story and it is not over. We need to keep going higher and higher and that is what the manager and chairman are looking for. "I am pleased to be part of this group and I hope we can keep moving forward." There are banners around St Mary's saying 'It's happening' and 'Our dream is real', pointing to big plans reflected in the big-money summer acquisitions of Dejan Lovren, Victor Wanyama and Dani Osvaldo. "Three signings costing 30-something million pounds," Fonte said with a smile. "Great, quality players. "For us players that have made the transition from League One, it is good for us because they make us work harder, make us improve as players, as a team. "It is a pleasure to be part of this club, to share a dressing room with those players. "We have a great team spirit, the club is fantastic with the resources we have. The training ground is being built. "Everything is in place for us to be successful and we need to do the job on the pitch." As well as success in the league, Saints are hoping to impress in the cup competitions. Having seen Swansea and Wigan triumph last term, Mauricio Pochettino's side will look to follow in those footsteps when their Capital One Cup campaign kicks off at Barnsley. "Last time we were there we won 1-0, a good memory," Fonte said. "I know it is a hard, hard ground. I played there many times. I know it is going to be hard but we need to go there with the mentality of winning because we want to have a go in the cups as well. "We want to win every game we are involved in because we have the team for that. "We have 23, 24 excellent players so the manager will pick a strong team and we will go there to win."
Correct, quite a low pressure game in comparison to some he will be in. My theory is if he starts tommorow night i'd expect him to score and its important for him to get up and running early on.
•It was their first defeat against lower league rivals in the League Cup since since a loss to Rotherham in 2008. That's because we were the lower league opposition!
So Lloyd Isgrove, Jack Stephens, Harrison Reed & Omar Rowe are missing from the U21 side today, possible inclusion tomorrow?
I'd like to see Gaston & Osvaldo get some game time together, as I have a feeling it'll be a combination we'll be looking to a lot this season.
Think it would be a good opportunity for Osvaldo to get a taste of English football and likely a goal. The sooner he scores the better it will be for everyone so why not give him a good chance in a relatively easy game?
