Changes Afoot At The Palace
Saints are likely to rotate the team a little at Selhurst Park after a period of only a tweak here and there from game to game.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has intimated that he may change a position or two in his side to face Crystal Palace tonight with a hectic week of three games in quick succession cming so soon after a busy festive period and the Austrian is keen to make sure he doesn't overstretch his players.
"We have managed it well so far," he said. "It's always important that you are looking on the players, how much they have invested in the last games, especially in the attacking line — they have done a lot of high-speed runs.
"It's the last time we have a game during the week, so maybe we rotate a little bit. Let's have a look."
"We know about the quality of the opponent," he said. "They have lost three home games — against Liverpool, Leicester and to City — so in all of the others they did well."
"We go there, and we know that we can take points in away games. We have done that against strong opponents, and this is another strong one, and then we go to Liverpool. So we know the next two away games are not easy, but we can go there with a lot of self confidence."
Hasenhuttl has done well in recent weeks by sticking with a core side and making the odd change to the starting line up when neccessary, but he is well aware that he not only needs to avoid burn out with some players but needs to give game time to others.
He rotated against Chelsea and got a win at Stamford Bridge so he should not fear Crystal Palace, but at home they are a formidable side so he needs to make sure he gets it right.
Clearly he also has one eye on the cup tie against Spurs and this perhaps shows he will take this one a little bit more seriously than he did against Huddersfield knowing that a fifth round place is within his grasp
What to read next:
Southampton Should Not Fear Anyone In The Play Offs.The hope of getting back into the Premier League automatically has long gone, but the season is not yet over and we now have a good chance of getting to Wembley and going up through the play offs, here we look at who we could meet.
Southampton V Stoke City The VerdictThis should have been a celebratory day for Saints fans, there should have been a feeling of positivity, but the truth is that the fight has been knocked out of the supporter base and we go into the play offs with confidence both on and off the pitch at a low ebb.
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures 2In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them.
Southampton V Stoke City The PreviewSaints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned.
No Togetherness No Character No FightNot my words, but those of Southampton manager Russell Martin, who should ask himself the question why two months ago we had all those attributes and now we don't !
Southampton At Leicester The DebacleThe big question is how can a side that was so tight at the back, so clinical up front and who could pass the ball around almost with their eyes closed, become the disorganised rabble that they were at the Leicester City this evening.
Southampton At Leicester City The PreviewSaints travel up to Leicester knowing that it is almost certain that they will just be in the play offs come the end of the season, however there is still the feint hope of 3rd place to play for, however the Foxes are playing for a bigger prize.