Match preview: Southampton v Wednesday

9 November 2022

Southampton v Wednesday

Wednesday 9 November
7:45pm
Carabao Cup round three
St Mary’s Stadium

THE MATCH

It’s the second of back-to-back cup ties for the Owls as focus this time turns to the Carabao Cup.

Wednesday defeated Morecambe on Friday night to progress in the Emirates FA Cup but now face a tough midweek tie against Premier League side Southampton at St Mary’s.

The Owls have made it to round three of the Carabao Cup with wins over Sunderland and Rochdale.

The Saints entered at round two, where they eased past Cambridge 3-0 away from home in August.

But for Southampton, the going has been tough this term and after a run of just one win in nine top flight games and six defeats, Ralph Hasenhüttl left his role as manager this week.

A crushing 4-1 home defeat at the hands of high-flying Newcastle was the final nail for Hasenhüttl, who has been replaced on a temporary basis by first team lead coach Rubén Sellés.

TEAM NEWS

Wednesday: Mallik Wilks and Alex Mighten are cup-tied and will not be available on Wednesday night.

Wilks featured for former club Hull in their 2-1 defeat at Bradford at the start of the season, while Mighten helped Nottingham Forest advance 3-0 at Grimsby prior to his loan switch.

Cameron Dawson will miss out with a concussion injury.

There were no fresh injuries or suspension concerns following our win over Morecambe on Friday, though Darren Moore may opt to freshen up the side with the likes of Michael Ihiekwe, George Byers, Barry Bannan, Marvin Johnson and Lee Gregory all named as substitutes for the Shrimps cup-tie.

Southampton: The Saints are likely to make changes for the clash with the Owls.

Young defender Juan Larios picked up an injury against the Magpies in the first half on Sunday and is a doubt.

With a trip to Anfield on the horizon this weekend - Southampton’s final game before the World Cup break – the stand-in boss could also freshen up his side and rest key players ahead of the Liverpool clash.

STRAIGHT TO PENALTIES

Should the cup-tie be level after 90 minutes, we will go straight to penalties, with no extra time.

OFFICIALS

Referee: John Brooks
Assistant referee 1: Matthew Jones
Assistant referee 2: Mark Stevens
Fourth official: Sam Allison

iFOLLOW

There will be no live video option due to competition broadcast regulations.

Live audio will be provided for existing subscribers and an audio match pass is also available, priced £2.50.

SUPPORTER CONDUCT

Following isolated anti-social behaviour incidents this season, we are reinforcing the importance of all supporters staying within EFL Ground Regulations, which can be found HERE.

Under the banner of ‘Love Football. Protect The Game’ the FA, Premier League and EFL have together introduced new measures and stronger sanctions across the game to tackle the increased anti-social and criminal behaviours recently seen within football grounds. Find out more HERE.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The hashtag for the game is #SOUSHW

Our official Twitter account @swfc will provide a blow-by-blow text update of the game, team news at 6:45pm and all the key news from St Mary’s!

Our official Instagram @swfcofficial will also keep you up to date on the latest events, with content uploaded to the story throughout the matchday.

Why not also follow us on Facebook and Tik Tok!

Extended match highlights will be available on our YouTube channel.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

Match Reports

Owls bow out on penalties

9 November 2022

The archetype game of two halves could not separate Southampton and Wednesday in the third round of the Carabao Cup after 90 minutes – so penalties did and the Owls went down 6-5 when Alex McCarthy saved from Dominic Iorfa.

Josh Windass fired the visitors ahead in a one-sided opening 45 before Saints equalised right on the stroke of half time from the spot through James Ward-Prowse.

Southampton came out for the second period a different side and only some dogged defending and the woodwork prevented a winner.

Wednesday bossed their top tier opponents through much of an entertaining first half, and were well on top in terms of chances created.

A super through-ball from Tyreeq Bakinson sent Windass scampering in on goal and McCarthy was alert to stop an early opener.

The Saints keeper then denied Barry Bannan at his near post and it was certainly the Owls that looked the more threatening.

And that industry was rewarded on 24 minutes. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru powered forward and teed up Windass on the angle inside the area – the finish was emphatic and Wednesday led.

Southampton responded with their first real opportunity four minutes later and David Stockdale did well to acrobatically keep out Joe Aribo’s glancing header.

But the Owls came right back and Saints again needed McCarthy to intervene, this time to beat out a low Windass drive.

With Wednesday in the driving seat, though, Saints were handed and seized a lifeline in first half stoppage time.

Marvin Johnson clipped Mousse Djenepo in the box, the referee said yes, and Ward-Prowse smashed past Stockdale to level matters against the run of play.

The goal duly gave Southampton a huge boost and they looked a different proposition after the break.

Adam Armstrong slammed into the side-netting before an incredible passage of play just past the hour.

Substitute Theo Walcott had been on the pitch little more than a minute when he found himself right at the heart of the action.

First he picked up a misplaced pass in the area from Stockdale and stroked towards an empty net only for Michael Ihiekwe to clear off the line.

The ball then went straight back to Walcott and the outcome was repeated as Ihiekwe saved the day for the second time inside a matter of seconds.

Walcott looked dangerous and curled one shot narrowly wide of the far post before Romain Perraud fired over the top from range.

There was some brief respite for Wednesday in the closing stages but the South Coast side almost won it at the death when a quick free-kick saw Stuart Armstrong drill an angled rocket from 18 yards that shook the crossbar.

So to penalties the tie went, which in the final analysis was probably the right result over the course of an enthralling cup contest.

Both sides netted their initial five spot kicks but McCarthy provided the heroics during sudden death to send the home side into round four of the competition.

Wednesday: Stockdale, Iorfa, McGuinness, Ihiekwe, Johnson, Bannan, Bakinson (Vaulks 76), Dele-Bashiru, Paterson, Windass (James 76), Gregory