Southampton return to Championship action this weekend as they welcome Sheffield Wednesday to St Mary’s.
Russell Martin will be determined for his side to extend their remarkable current unbeaten run to 20 games and will be wary of the threat of a resurgent Sheffield Wednesday side who have won their last three games.
Both Southampton and Wednesday claimed 4-0 victories in the FA Cup last time out, with the latter’s win over Cardiff City far more of a surprise than the Saints beating League Two Walsall by the same scoreline.
The clash at St Mary’s will see a return for former Southampton coach Danny Rohl, who was at the club during Ralph Hasenhuttl’s tenure. Having taken the manager job at Wednesday in October, Rohl has begun to turn things round in his first management role despite the Owls still sitting 22nd in the Championship.
In becoming Wednesday boss, Rohl became the youngest manager currently in the English Football League at just 34 and the German will be looking to continue his side’s fine run of form against his former employers.
What should Southampton expect from Danny Rohl’s Sheffield Wednesday?
Like Martin, Rohl was nominated for the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award for December which is testament to Southampton’s next opponent’s recent form.
Rohl has learnt a lot from his time as coach of Southampton, RB Leipzig and Germany and his footballing philosophy is focused on being front-footed and aggressive. Whilst Martin’s tactical approach focuses on control, Rohl’s is more centred around high-pressing, transitions and general chaos in a similar way to that of his former mentor Hasenhuttl.
Recently, Rohl has favoured a 4-3-3 formation so they should shape up similarly to Martin’s side despite the differences in instruction. Wednesday like to get forward in numbers and really capitalise on winning the ball back high up the pitch with the likes of Anthony Musaba, Bailey Cadamerti and Djeidi Gassama key to this with their willingness to press and run in behind.
EFL pundit David Prutton is a former player for both sides and has predicted a Southampton win, but commented that: “Sheffield Wednesday will be no pushovers. Danny Rohl has turned things around there and they will put up a real fight. It could be close, but I just have to back the Saints to edge it at home.”
Southampton love to have the bulk of the ball, as evidenced by the fact they have averaged 66% possession in the Championship this season, and they will have to be at their best playing out from the back with Rohl’s side pressing from the front. The positive for the Saints is that if they do manage to beat the press they should have plenty of space to exploit, with Stuart Armstrong – who is growing in influence this season – a master at picking up pockets of space where he can really hurt opponents.
Martin heavily rotated his side for the FA Cup last weekend but it is expected that the side will have a more normal feel for the return to league action. Ryan Fraser was Southampton’s star performer against Walsall and will hope to add to his two goals and assist last weekend against Wednesday.
There is also a decision to be made up front, with Che Adams and Sékou Mara competing for one spot. Adams’ future beyond this month is uncertain but whilst he is still a Southampton player he will be in contention and Mara has had some bright cameos recently, as well as scoring when given a starting opportunity last weekend.
With two sides at opposite ends of the table who both play very different styles, but both in very good form, this has all the makings of an exciting affair.
With Ipswich facing a decent Sunderland side, a Southampton win has the potential to take them into the automatic promotion places for the first time this season.