Southampton return to action on Wednesday night, looking to put the draw away at Huddersfield Town behind them as they welcome Bristol City to St Mary’s.
Whilst the nature of the draw with Huddersfield was disappointing given Southampton took the lead and dominated proceedings, the result was by no means a disaster as it extended their current unbeaten run to nine games.
The visit of Bristol City is likely to present a very different test to the one Southampton faced in the long trip north on Saturday, the Robins themselves confident having got seven points from their last three games and coming off the back of a 3-2 win over Middlesborough at the weekend.
Could Russell Martin ring the changes?
After the draw against Huddersfield, Martin admitted that he was “really angry” with his side’s mentality having taken the lead and failed to secure maximum points.
The ex-Swansea City manager will be looking for a reaction from his team and this, coupled with the fact his side play three games in a week, could mean he chooses to rotate his starting line-up. Ross Stewart made his second substitute of the season late against Huddersfield, but is unlikely to be ready to start for another couple of weeks.
Having failed to add to their opening goal on Saturday, and with Stewart unable to come in from the off, this could open the door for another attacking player to come in. That man could be Carlos Alcaraz, who has impressed this season playing as a false nine.
Alcaraz was an unused substitute on Saturday having brought a slight injury back from international duty, but could return to the side with Martin saying on the 20-year-old’s lack of involvement at the weekend: “He never wants to not play but he understood and now we will have a fresh Carlos for the next two games if we put him in the team.”
Ryan Manning has seen James Bree, 25, start ahead of him at left-back in the last five games and, although Bree has impressed, Martin may opt to freshen things up and give Manning an opportunity to win back his starting spot.
The midfield is the most settled part of the side currently, with Flynn Downes likely to be the central player of a trio including Will Smallbone and Stuart Armstrong.
With this in mind, here is how Southampton line-up against Bristol City on Wednesday night:
Bazunu (GK); Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Downes, Smallbone; S. Armstrong, Alcaraz, Sulemana; A. Armstrong