Saints V Ipswich Town The Preview Saturday, 3rd Jan 2015 11:22 This is what the FA Cup should be about a full house and two teams trying to get to the next round. Those that say the FA Cup has lost it's magic should take a look at St Mary's on Sunday where over 30,000 will be in attendance including over 5,000 visiting Tractor Boys, the biggest ever away following at St Mary's. This is what the FA Cup used to be about, those of a certain age will remember that invariably attendances for Cup games were bigger than for league games and there would always be more away fans at the games. Saints have gown that be pricing the game attractively you can bring the sparkle back to the FA Cup and Ipswich are playing their part with a big away following which is bound to be noisy. So its all measuring up to be a good afternoon at St Mary's all that needs to happen now is for Saints to win it and et through to the next round. So far Ronald Koeman has taken the cup games very seriously and although he has put in the odd youth player etc in the main he plays the core of his first team and that looks to be no different on Sunday judging by his pre match comments. Normally for the cup Matt Targett has come in at left back to give him experience, however that may not be the case this time with Nathaniel Clyne being injured as Ronald may feel that he needs to have some pace going forward from the back. Sadie Mane is another departure and he has been in form of late flourishing as Koeman changed the formation of the team a little, however we have plenty of other options n this department and Shane Long is a more than adequate replacement, Long had to sit on the side lines last season whilst Hull stormed to Wembley due to being cup tied, so he will be eager to get there an play this season. Ipswich have been having a great season and sit second the Championship only a point behind leaders Bournemouth and 10 ahead of 7th spot, their concentration this season is going to be getting promoted to the Premier League and in that respect ironically avoiding a Wembley appearance by going up automatically. So will they as Saints did in a similar position three years ago put out a weakened side in the Cup to avoid unnecessary injury etc. Of course a weakened side is not always better to play, often the players in have a point to prove to the manager and put in a battling display that makes it very difficult to overcome. Ipswich do of course have an ex Saint in their squad, David McGoldrick played for Saints unfortunately at a time when we were going into administration and left in the summer of 2009 before the Liebherr's had taken over. He is a key player in the Ipswich side and is second top scorer with 7 goals behind Daryl Murphy with 17, the big question is whether Mick McCarthy will risk them both and indeed might rest them, Ipswich are not big scorers, they have hit 41 goals so far this season and that pair are responsible for well over half. Saints will start as favourites but as we know the FA Cup is a great leveller, however Saints do have a great record at home against lower league teams, losing only three times in the post war period, that of course means nothing, but with Ronald Koeman taking it seriously and the size of our squad, it should hopefully mean that we put the Tractor Boys out and let them concentrate on the league, hopefully we will meet them again next season in the Premier League Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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