Southampton not taking Sheffield Wednesday lightly in Capital One Cup

Nigel Adkins: Southampton are expected to make several changes to their team against Sheffield Wednesday

Southampton are adamant they are taking the Capital One Cup 'very seriously' and will not underestimate Sheffield Wednesday despite plans to field a weakened team.

Nigel Adkins' Saints go into Tuesday's third round encounter fresh from a morale-boosting 4-1 defeat of Aston Villa, which saw them notch up their first Premier League points of the campaign.

Many of those who started at the weekend will be rested against Wednesday in favour of the South Coast side's peripheral squad players and Academy talents.

But Southampton assistant manager Andy Crosby told his club's official website: "It's a competition that we're taking very seriously and we're down to the last 32.

"There's competition for places now so there's a chance for other players to come into the team and stake a claim"
Southampton assistant boss Andy Crosby

"Over the last few years, we have blooded a lot of young players in this competition because the vision of the club is to get a lot of home-grown players through into the first team so we'll continue to do that.

Pathway

"There's competition for places now so there's a chance for other players to come into the team and stake a claim.

"We made changes at Stevenage [in the second round] and, if you look back over last season, we made changes in this competition then as well.

"We are taking it seriously because it is a pathway to a major competition and a major trophy.

"We're up against a very good Sheffield Wednesday team. Dave Jones has done an incredible job and at the back end of last season he had a great impact.

"I think they'll come here trying to cause an upset."