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Southampton 2-0 Huddersfield: FA Cup – Three Match Takeaway Thoughts

By Alastair Case

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: William Smallbone of Southampton celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Southampton FC and Huddersfield Town at St. Mary's Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: William Smallbone of Southampton celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Southampton FC and Huddersfield Town at St. Mary's Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 04: Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton celebrates with James Ward-Prowse of Southampton following the FA Cup Third Round match between Southampton FC and Huddersfield Town at St. Mary’s Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 04: Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton celebrates with James Ward-Prowse of Southampton following the FA Cup Third Round match between Southampton FC and Huddersfield Town at St. Mary’s Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /

Hasenhuttl showed the right level of respect to the FA Cup

Given the recent revival in Southampton’s fortunes, it would have been easy for Hasenhuttl to have played a team full of academy players in an effort to keep the main squad injury free. Whilst the manager did make a raft of changes, he kept the majority of the starting squad involved with Gunn, Yoshida, Romeu, Vestergaard, Danso, Long, Boufal, Adams and Ward-Prowse all examples of senior players who started.

There was the right blend of experience and youth deployed to see off Huddersfield and importantly, to limit the opportunity for injuries to occur. The key word in these scenarios is momentum. Indeed, the last thing needed when a team is flying is to lose to an outfit in the division below and in doing so, undermine the hard work and morale present in the club.

If Saints can pick up another three or four wins in the league, they will be approaching safety and as such, a cup run would be a nice way to reward the fans who have stayed behind the team through a tough patch. Hasenhuttl has been honest about losing his way earlier this season but the recent run of four wins in five games across all competitions will leave him optimistic that the problems are behind him.

Next. Saints 2-0 Huddersfield: Three Match Takeaway Thoughts. dark