Southampton vs Norwich City; The FA Cup Third Round
Southampton vs Norwich City. The FA Cup Third Round.
St. Mary's Stadium.
Southampton v Norwich preview: Steven Davis to miss FA Cup replay
Wednesday 18 January 2017 09:04, UK
Southampton manager Claude Puel plans to continue to rotate his side for the FA Cup third-round replay at home to Norwich on Wednesday.
The Sky Bet Championship side scored an injury-time equaliser to rescue a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road on January 7.
Saints have only won one of their last six games in all competitions and were beaten 1-0 at Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.
Puel said he plans to play a “mix” of experienced and younger players against Norwich.
“It's important to continue the work, to improve with these young players and also to put around them experienced players to maintain a good level with the emotion, the physicality and the quality,” he said.
"I think with all of these games in January it's important also to make rotation, but of course we want to qualify - it's important for all the squad to continue this work.
"It's important to give game-time to different players, to continue to improve - it's important for Southampton.”
Norwich have also won just one of their last six games and sit 11th in the Championship after losing at Rotherham on Saturday.
The winner of the replay will host Arsenal in the next round on January 28.
Team news
Midfielder Steven Davis is out for Southampton after missing the defeat to Burnley due to a knock.
Defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Bertrand are both doubts and Jose Fonte will not play as his future at the club remains in question.
Sofiane Boufal (knee), Charlie Austin (shoulder), Matt Targett (hamstring), Alex McCarthy (hamstring) and Jeremy Pied (knee) all remain sidelined.
Jonny Howson misses out for Norwich with a calf injury and Louis Thompson, Conor McGrandles and Carlton Morris are also unavailable.
Nelson Oliveira is suspended after getting sent off against Rotherham at the weekend.
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Opta stats
Southampton have progressed from 13 of their last 16 FA Cup replays against teams from a lower division.
Norwich, meanwhile, have won just one of their last 15 FA Cup games against Premier League opposition (D3 L11) – 2-1 v West Brom in January 2012.
The Saints have scored in all but one of their last 21 FA Cup games.
The Canaries are without a win in their last three replays in the competition, last winning one in February 2007 (3-2 v Blackpool).
Charlie Nicholas prediction
I’ll be keeping an eye on this one, with Arsenal awaiting. Norwich will play a strong side with Alex Neil fighting for his job and Southampton will make a few changes. I can see this going the distance as well and it might take a bit of quality from the Saints bench to send them through.
Charlie predicts: Southampton to qualify in extra-time (10/1 with Sky Bet)
