B Team Preview: Crawley Town vs Saints
Southampton FC’s B team are back in Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night, visiting Crawley Town at The People’s Pension Stadium.
Crawley Town vs Saints
Papa John’s Trophy
Tuesday 9th November, 7pm GMT
For a young and developing Southampton B team side their 2021/22 Papa John’s Trophy has been a big learning curve against experienced football league players.
On matchday one Dave Horseman’s side narrowly lost out at Leyton Orient to a 82nd minute Antony Papadopoulous goal.
Against League One side Charlton Athletic on matchday two Saints fell to a 3-0 deficit before the break but had the better of the second half which saw the game finish 4-1 after Olly Lancashire’s headed goal.
Despite plenty of positives it leaves Saints winless in Group O, a record matched by Tuesday’s hosts Crawley who suffered 4-0 and 6-1 defeats to Orient and Charlton respectively.
Although qualification from the group is no longer possible for either side, Horseman’s side will be looking to end their trophy campaign on a high with a third placed finish.
Saints’ youngsters have had backing at both of their Papa John’s Trophy fixtures so far, adding to their development alongside being in a football league stadium.
You can play your part during the third fixture by grabbing your tickets to support Saints at Crawley, priced as follows:
Grab your tickets ahead of the game by clicking the link below:
The last meeting between these two sides came back in 2016, also during a Football League Trophy group stage.
On a cold November Saints took an early lead at St Mary’s Stadium through Yusuf Mersin’s third minute own goal before Siph Mdlalose added a second six minutes later.
Callum Slattery scored the third on 34 minutes, before Olufela Olomola completed the scoring with 12 minutes left on the clock.
Amongst those in the Saints side that evening were Yan Valery, Harry Lewis and Will Smallbone.
MANAGER'S THOUGHTS
"The boys look forward to this one more than any of the games," said coach Dave Horseman. "They probably enjoy most games at the moment but they look forward to this one.
"We had Caleb missing for [Newcastle], because he had a little tight quad so we're hoping he's back. Kegs has got his groin, Dynel's suspended so there will be a few changes.
"It might be a young, youthful group which will be tough because Crawley are good. I've spoken with Will Ferry a few times on his loan and he's really enjoying it there so it'll be a tough one.
"It's a shame really because I think this is a group we could have qualified out of if we started playing how we are now. We'll go, it's a good experience and we'll have to do things defensively that we don't do normally in our league programme.
"Hopefully we can continue the performances that we've had up to this day."
