Southampton: Saints midfielder Will Smallbone reacts to FA Cup heroics

Saturday marked another landmark day for Southampton’s academy after two of their youngsters scored against Huddersfield in the FA Cup.

Will Smallbone and Jake Vokins both started the game and found the net in the second half tosee Saints through to the Fourth-Round.

After a big day for both players – Smallbone making his senior debut and Vokins his home debut – they were clearly delighted when doing post-match interviews.

Speaking to southamptonfc.com, Smallbone said:

"“It was a special moment for me to make my debut and to mark it with a goal made it even better. I’ve worked so hard for it to come through the Academy, so to be finally given the opportunity and to do it alongside Jake [Vokins] was special. All I wanted to do was celebrate in front of the fans. My mum was here, so it was special for her to see after me growing up through the Academy, with all the hours put in travelling down – it was special.”"

Both Smallbone and Vokins showed during Saturday’s game why they could be the next academy talents to make a real impression on the Saints first-team.

The former was perhaps involved in the most notable moments of the two but that is because he was playing as one of Saints’ attacking-midfielders.

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Smallbone had an early shot that rose over the bar after breaking into a good forward position, and then flicked a cute pass through for Shane Long to find the net – but VAR ruled it out for a narrow offside.

His best moment was still to come though as he opened the scoring two minutes after half time.

Shane Long knocked a header back towards the penalty spot to where the youngster had taken up a good position and Smallbone did the rest by cracking a low volley into the corner.

For a player making his debut, Smallbone showed some nice touches that suggest that technique on the ball are his main strength.

Vokins had to wait for his best moment of the afternoon but it was surely worth it in the end – as his reaction when celebrating in front of a St Mary’s crowd showed.

He ran onto a ball out wide from Che Adams and had the courage to push towards the Huddersfield penalty area and into a shooting position.

With a defender closing in, he let fly from around 20 yards and connected well before seeing the ball spin up off his marker and in off the bar.

Whilst it is very early days for the duo, it is important that they continue to get a steady taste of senior football into the future.