Match Day Thread Derby County v Southampton FA Cup 3rd Round Saturday 5th January 2019 3pm

The mighty Saints begin their 2019 FA Cup campaign with a visit to Pride Park, home of the Rams. For Saints, this tie comes off the back of an unbeaten run of 1 game, and an enviable record of not conceding a goal in the whole of this year so far.

Saints have a great record at Derby, unbeaten in our last 5 visits there, although the last FA Cup match in Round 3 in 1998 proved to be a disappointing 2-0 defeat. And who can forget the frustration of the 2nd leg of the Championship Playoff Semifinals in 2007, when we won the away leg 3-2, only to discover that away goals didn’t count double and that Super Kelvin Davis couldn’t save penalties, and Leon Best and Inigo Idiakez couldn’t score them?

Ralph Hasenhüttl will undoubtedly make changes from the side that heroically held out at Stamford Bridge, and the Academy ranks might well provide yet more fresh blood. Angus Gunn will again feature in goal, but Pierre-Emile Højbjerg continues his suspension and Michael Obafemi continues to nurse his hamstring.

Officials (thanks Don, again):
Referee:- Oliver Langford (West Midlands based)
Assistant Referees :- Andrew Fox & Shaun Hudson
Fourth Official :- Neil Hair

Come on you Saints!

 

My first game since Cardiff and looking for my first win since Brighton in August.

Reckon we'll get it too, up the ****ing Saints

 

Sitting in 6th place, I expect Derby will rest some key players too.

 

Oh no you mentioned that horrible night in the rain.....

 

Are Hesketh and Gallagher available or both injured?

Also feels pretty rough to have to pray to high heavens that Ings is fit for each game.

Guess this will be the clear sign of if Gabbi and Hoedt are truly written off.

 

Just watched the presser. I love Ralph more and more every day! When asked at the end what FA Cup Finals he particularly remembered watching as a boy he replied that the Queen always used to present the Cup, and the last time she presented it was to Southampton, as she obviously thought it couldn’t get any better after that!

He also said that he feels generally positive now that the busy period is over and that there will be more time to train the players. He said he needs more speed in the squad, and is open to bringing players in. The squad is currently too big, and the club are listening to expressions of interest in Gabbiadini. The club are also trying to help Steven Davis “make the next step”. Didn’t mention any other possible exits but wasn’t asked about them.

 

He really is good to listen to.

Hesketh confirmed injured as of yesterday, I've heard Gallagher injured but dont know much about that one. Will probably have slattery featuring as he was on the bench yesterday though.

 

http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/dec/18/fa-cup-fifth-round-replays-181218

Not sure it will apply to us?

 

It won’t matter, we’ll win every game 4-0.

 

Mid week as well isn't it?

Another nail

 

Oh, I forgot to say, Ralph hopes Charlie will get off with a fine for his V sign.

 

When does the winter break come in? About time they did that

 

Hmm, not convinced. 1 or 2 game ban IMO.

 

The statement says that the cancellation of 5th round replays is part of the agreement for the winter break, but has been brought in 1 season earlier than planned....that suggests the winter break is scheduled for 2019-20. As said before, it is staggered with half of the EPL having time off, followed by the other half...so there will always be some EPL matches on.

 

Saints will win this and I like a cup run

 

Finding it very difficult to dream up many opportunities being given to attacking players that doesn't make us look startlingly blunt. But we can't run our only functioning attacking players into the ground either.

Give Slattery and Vokins a go. Johnson and any of our fit returning young lads on the bench. Of our peripheral players who need game time it seems only Mo hasn't been written off, so he should probably play. Gunn, Bednarek and JWP stay in. Stephens back in. Figure the rest out from there. Easy this stuff, how did our last couple managers make it look so hard...?

 

I prefer to remember a game I went to in 1974 (October?) where “little” Southampton from Div 2 pummelled the “mighty” Derby (Div 1) 5-0 in the League Cup at the Dell. In fact ..... I reckon I’ve got the programme somewhere (goes off to look for it ......)

 

What happens if Gabbi plays and bangs in a hat-trick

 

Hat trick for Mickey Channon, with Stokes and Ossie getting one each. Derby’s team included Bruce Rioch, Colin Todd, Archie Gemmill and Franny Lee!