Nathan Dyer is not concerned that his Southampton roots may make him a target for abuse at Portsmouth tomorrow

Dyer will look to build on his impressive Swansea City performance last week with an appearance at the home of Portsmouth - deadly rivals for his Southampton employers.

And those links with the Saints are likely to mean that Dyer will be the subject of abuse from the Fratton Park stands as they look to put the youngster off his game.

But Dyer is ready to take whatever comes his way - no doubt hardened by abuse received at other grounds for previous indiscretions.

Speaking to the Evening Post, Dyer said "It's strange how things work out, I am expecting a hostile reception, but I have just got to get on with it.

"I have had a hostile reception before and it doesn't faze me at all.

"A lot of players get it — I'm not the first.

"It could spur a few players on. It does give me a little more incentive to do a bit better, but at the end of the day you have got to want to do well all the time.

"You have just got to keep your head down and the best way to answer them is with a good performance and a goal.

"The Saints fans will be happy if I do that, but the main thing is for the team to do well and win the game.

"It's not about me and the fans getting on my back. It's about football and us winning, not the crowd getting on my back and me giving something back.

"It's a good cup tie for us," he said. "We can test ourselves against a Premier League side.

"We will have to do well to progress. People still have to remember Swansea have been in the Championship for the first time in many years.

"I know we play really good football, but everyone is still getting used to the step up from League One.

"This is going to be an even bigger step up.

"They have a lot of internationals but you can't say they will play the best of games.

"It is a big occasion for everyone, and that will spur us on.

"A lot of Premier League managers and teams have looked at us and realise that we can play football and pass the ball around.

"That was the reaction I had when I saw Swansea, and that goes for everyone I speak to.

"Portsmouth will know that we are not a small club that will just battle hard — we have intentions of winning this game.

"We have seen the likes of Burnley and Derby do well (in the Carling Cup) and I don't see why we can't do the same.

"Everyone wants to knock out a Premier League team, especially the holders."

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