Monday Briefing: February 11th

First-team heading to Tenerife

Southampton’s squad are today embarking on an intensive five-day training camp to Tenerife, as manager Ralph Hasenhüttl puts the break in their Premier League schedule to good use.

The warm-weather trip will give the manager a chance to work with his team in optimum conditions, with the boss and his staff having prepared videos for each player in order to review their strengths and weaknesses, as well as a series of on-pitch sessions.

“It is time to make a review with every player,” said Hasenhüttl. “What we now try to do is to use this time for hard work and to get perfectly prepared for the last two or three months that we have to go.”

Bertrand returns to action

After three months on the sideline with injury, Saints welcomed back Ryan Bertrand for Saturday’s game against Cardiff.

The left-back played the full game against the Bluebirds, having not seen any action since the 1-1 home draw with Watford back in early November.

"It was his first time playing and we lost, so it’s also horrible for him, but it’s good that he's fit again," said Ralph Hasenhüttl.

Saints slip into bottom three

Saturday afternoon was a bitterly disappointing one for Southampton, who suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Cardiff that saw them slip back into the bottom three.

Saints looked to have salvaged a point when Jack Stephens netted an equaliser in added time, cancelling out Sol Bamba’s second-half opener, but there was still time for Kenneth Zohore to net a heartbreaking, last-gasp winner.

The result, coupled with Burnley’s win at Brighton later in the evening, meant the team slipped to 18th place in the table, although only on goal difference behind Newcastle, who visit Wolves tonight.

Women’s perfect run continues

It was a great weekend for Southampton FC Women, who won a big top-of-the-table clash at home to Oxford City Ladies to keep their perfect league run going.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s team triumphed 5-0 at AFC Totton, as they made it nine wins from nine in the South West Region Women’s Football League Premier Division.

Shannon Sievwright (2), Phoebe Williams, Chloe Newton and Ellie Chaffe got the goals, with Saints second in the table on goal difference to AFC Bournemouth CST, but with a game in hand over them.

Congratulations also to youngster Ruby Burnell, who last week received her first call-up to Wales' Under-16s squad. 

Under-23s suffer cup disappointment

Southampton Under-23s’ hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup suffered a blow over the weekend.

Radhi Jaïdi’s side suffered a 3-0 defeat at Group H leaders Newcastle, leaving them in danger of missing out on the top-two finish that would see them advance.

Saints are currently second in the standings, but are only a point ahead of Leeds, who have a game in hand on them, and they will likely need to beat Notts County at home in their final match and hope for a favourable result when Leeds face Newcastle.

Ticket updates

Southampton’s visit to Watford, on March 16th, will go on sale to eligible Season Ticket holders from tomorrow. Click here to view the full information for the game.

Tickets for the home game with Tottenham, on March 9th, go on sale to fans with a 2018/19 purchase history from today, and then are on general sale from Thursday. Click here to buy.

Tickets for the trip to Manchester United, on March 2nd, are currently on general sale. Click here to buy.