Wednesday will look to put their poor league form to one side at St Mary’s tonight when they take on Premier League Southampton in the third round of the Capital One Cup.
The Owls are in desperate need to a confidence-boosting victory to stop their slide down the Championship and will hope such a result against the Saints will act as a shot in the arm for Dave Jones’s men.
Jones will make a return to one of his former club’s and will find Nigel Adkins’s men in good spirits following their 4-1 victory over Aston Villa at the weekend.
Southampton Team News:
Southampton are expected to make changes despite picking up an impressive 4-1 win over Villa on home soil at the weekend.
Boss Nigel Adkins will be eager to keep his squad fresh for their match next weekend and has a number of players to call upon in reserve.
Jack Cork will be pushing for a run-out after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in pre-season.
Saints made eleven changes for their second round victory against Stevenage and probably won’t be far off that again tonight.
Players such as Danny Butterfield, who’s been linked with a loan move to Hillsborough this week, Dan Seaborne and Luke Shaw, as well as a host of development players, could feature.
Player to watch: Billy Sharp
Sharp may or may not feature, but did so in Southampton’s last cup game at Stevenage. If he does, rest assured the Unitedite will be eager to get one over on the Owls.
Wednesday Team News:
Jones will be forced to make changes to his side whether he wants to or not, with both Martin Taylor and Ross Barkley cup-tied.
Joe Mattock can return to action following a one-match ban, however, and could go straight back into the starting eleven given Taylor’s absence, though Miguel Llera will also be pushing for a return to action.
Players such as Chris O’Grady, Gary Madine, Jose Semedo and Chris Maguire will all be pushing for a piece of the action.
Semedo could come in for Rhys McCabe, who misses out with a thigh injury.
Player to watch: Jay Bothroyd
Bothroyd has yet to make his mark on Wednesday since his loan switch from Queens Park Rangers and he’ll be hoping to get off the mark against Premier League opposition to help silence his critics.
Match Facts & Stats
Form:
Southampton: W-L-L-W-L
Wednesday: L-L-L-L-W
Head-to-Head:
Southampton wins: 25
Wednesday wins: 33
Draws: 24
Last Time Out:
Southampton 2-0 Wednesday
St Mary’s, 19/3/1
Jose Fonte and Rickie Lambert struck within six minutes of each other to give the Saints victory the last time the sides met.
Next Fixtures:
v Wolves (A) – 29/9/12
