The Saints
The Hatters travel down south today to face Southampton looking to stretch their unbeaten run to three games, following morale boosting draws with Carlisle and Brighton.
Gary Ablett’s side have lost left back Michael Rose to Norwich on loan but have been boosted by the signings of Mat Sadler and George Donnelly from Watford and Plymouth respectively.
The Saints have also been busy in this month’s transfer window, bringing in prolific striker Lee Barnard from Southend, along with defenders Daniel Seaborne (Exeter) and Jose Fonte (Crystal Palace). Alan Pardew is reportedly close to bringing in winger Jason Puncheon from Plymouth, with the former Barnet man having impressed on loan at MK Dons this season.
Quotes
Alan Pardew:
“I would expect to win if I was a Southampton fan so I’ve got no problem with that but we’ve got to be big enough and good enough to deal with that because we’re going to get more and more of these games where the fans are going to come in and expect us to win.
“They’re [Stockport] having some difficulties financially and they’ve lost some key players which has hurt them which is why they are in the situation that they’re in.
“The players that remain are fully focused however, and the manager is doing a great job, they’re really making it tough for teams but as yet can’t find that win that they need. We need to be ruthless, we mustn’t allow them get through the door so we must put them to bed and that’s what we’ll do.”
Gary Ablett:
“We can go to Southampton, which will be a very difficult game, with a lot of heart in terms of the way we are set up and the way we try and play.
“Hopefully the pitch at St Mary’s will suit us and be a passing surface so we can get it down and play.”
Team News
Southampton have three players sidelined through injury. Captain Dean Hammond and defender Graeme Murty are both still out with achilles and ankle injuries while Lloyd James is a new addition to the treatment table after coming off injured during the Saints midweek draw with Brentford.
County are still without Jabo Ibehre who serves the last game of his two match suspension, but the Hatters are boosted by the return of David Poole from his ban. Defender Johnny Mullins is set to miss out however after picking up a knee injury during Tuesday’s draw with Brighton.
