Southampton V Swansea at St. Mary's Stadium : Match Preview

06 October 2013 11:27
Southampton V Swansea - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Luke not Shaw starter for Saints

Southampton defender Luke Shaw is a doubt for Sunday's game against Swansea through illness.


Manager Mauricio Pochettino is due to assess Shaw on Saturday before deciding whether the left-back will play any part in the game at St Mary's Stadium.


Pochettino has no other injury concerns as he goes in search of a third successive win when a rivalry that stretches back almost two decades resumes.


Pochettino locked horns with Swans boss Michael Laudrup for two seasons during the 1990s, when they played for Real Madrid and Espanyol respectively.


"As players we were completely different," the Saints boss said.


"He was a world-class striker and I was just a simple centre-half so we don't compare in that sense."


The similarities became apparent when their playing days came to an end.


Laudrup tried, with differing levels of success, to bring an attacking philosophy to Brondby, Getafe, Spartak Moscow and Mallorca when he went in to management.


Pochettino tried a similar tack at Espanyol, and now the coaches possess two of the most attractive teams in the Premier League.


Pochettino has been impressed by how Laudrup has taken Swansea on since he replaced Rodgers in the summer of 2012.


"With Swansea's last few managers, they have played, good attractive attacking football and Laudrup is no different," Pochettino said.


"He and I share a simple philosophy about how our teams want to play so we do have that in common.


"I am happy for him. Since I have come to England I have been able to see more of the work he has done there. 'He has done a great job."


Swansea captain Ashley Williams is set to miss a fourth successive game.


The Wales defender has an ankle ligament injury, meaning Jordi Amat and Chico Flores will continue to form a partnership at centre-half.


Full-back Angel Rangel is closing in on a return from an ankle injury but Pablo Hernandez's hamstring may not be risked.


Laudrup said: "Southampton have a good team, last year when we went there they were struggling, but they played well.


"Since then they have brought in a new manager, they have some new players and they are building on what was there.


"They have a good squad, have made a good start, and they play good football.


"It will be difficult as it's a game between two sides who like to have control of the ball, and we will need to ensure we have enough of it, as if they have it too much we will have a lot of running to do, which will be tough after our run of games."








Source: PA