Saints Marching
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Fulham vs. Southampton: Opposition threat

By Daniel Hargraves

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Callum O'Dowda of Bristol City battles for the ball with Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Bristol City at Craven Cottage on October 31, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Callum O'Dowda of Bristol City battles for the ball with Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Bristol City at Craven Cottage on October 31, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 31: Callum O’Dowda of Bristol City battles for the ball with Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Bristol City at Craven Cottage on October 31, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 31: Callum O’Dowda of Bristol City battles for the ball with Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Bristol City at Craven Cottage on October 31, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /

Later this afternoon Southampton face off against Fulham at Craven Cottage, thus beginning their 2017/18 FA Cup campaign.

Whether or not Southampton will be looking to have a successful cup run in this season’s competition, we don’t know, but what we do know is that if they are to progress they’ll have to get past a Fulham side who are comfortably mid-table in England’s second-tier.

The Saints are without as many as three first-team defenders, with Cedric, Wesley Hoedt and Jeremy Pied all sidelined. With that in mind, youngster Jan Bednarek will likely get the nod for his first senior appearance since August.

Jack Stephens will potentially be shifted to his less natural right-back position as a result, which could play in the home side’s hands with their stronger play coming down the left.

But who should Southampton look out for and exploit as key threats for the game against the Cottagers?