Southampton vs Norwich City - Claude Puel wants Southampton to 'finish the job'

Posted Wednesday, January 18, 2017 by PA

Southampton manager Claude Puel wants his side to learn from the mistakes they made against Norwich when the teams meet again for their Emirates FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday.

The Sky Bet Championship side levelled the scores in stoppage time on January 7 to force a replay, and the Saints boss wants his players to put the disappointment of the 2-2 draw behind them.

Southampton have won only one of their last six games in all competitions, beating Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg, and host Norwich on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Burnley on Saturday.

Puel said: "Norwich was another disappointment.

"It was a game where we had good control of the ball but without many opportunities.

"It was the same as many games - we are unlucky.

"Many games are the same, without opportunity for the opponent and 30 seconds from the final whistle we conceded another goal.

"It was a shame because we had all of the ball and now it's important to finish this work at home, in front of our fans, and to give a good answer and get a good result."

Puel has become known for tinkering with his starting line-up each week, and the Southern Daily Echo writes that the Saints manager has made 179 changes during the 31 games he has been in charge this season.

The Southampton boss has never named the same side in consecutive matches, and admits there will be a mixture of young and experienced players who will face Norwich on Wednesday.

Puel said: "It's normally a mix. It's important to continue the work, to improve with these young players and also to put around them experienced players to maintain a good level with the emotion, the physicality and the quality.

"I think with all of these games in January it's important also to make rotation, but of course we want to qualify - it's important for all the squad to continue this work.

"It's important to give game-time to different players, to continue to improve - it's important for Southampton.

"A good result would be a good thing for the squad at this moment. With Leicester, it will be another game."

Southampton are hopeful that midfielder Steven Davis will have recovered from a knock which kept him out of the Premier League game against Burnley at the weekend, but Sofiane Boufal (knee), Charlie Austin (shoulder), Matt Targett (hamstring), Alex McCarthy (hamstring) and Jeremy Pied (knee) remain sidelined.

Norwich are struggling with injuries and suspensions, and boss Alex Neil will be wary of this weekend's Sky Bet Championship clash with Wolves.

Midfielder Jonny Howson misses out with the calf injury he sustained at Rotherham and Louis Thompson is not yet ready to return from a pelvis injury. Steven Whittaker has got a tight hamstring and may not be risked.

Striker Nelson Oliveira was sent off against the Millers and starts a suspension, while Martin Olsson completed a move to Swansea on Tuesday.

Graham Dorrans is out for a couple of months with a knee injury and fellow midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu is away with DR Congo at the African Nations Cup, meaning Neil is down to the bare bones.

Youngsters Ray Grant and Ben Godfrey are included in the squad.