Defender Matt Targett has said that Southampton are heading to Denmark with confidence as they aim to progress to the
group stages of theEuropa League.
The first leg ended 1-1 at St Mary’s last week but Saintsknow they will need to score at the MCH Arena if they are to reach the next round, following FC Midtjylland’s away goal.
Ronald Koeman’s men were given a lifeline having fallen behind with the last kick of the first half through Ex Saint Tim Sparv’s goal. But Jay Rodriguez successfully converted from 12 yards to level the tie up.
Targett has started all but one of Southampton’s competitive games this season due to the absence of Ryan Bertrand – one of the outstanding performers from last years campaign. But the young left back believes that they showed in the second half of the first leg to suggest that Koeman’s side are capable of progressing.
“First half against Midtjylland we didn’t play up to our usual standard, in the second half we came out fighting and really took the game to them.” Targett told reporters.
He continued in saying “we got the important goal that we needed to make sure we’ll go to their place with confidence to get the result.
“As a young player you want to play in as many big games as you can in Europe and the Premier League. It’s always good
to play in them and it has been a good experience for me personally.”
Although Saints have had a slower start to this season compared to last year, they have only suffered one defeat this season in all competitions. On Sunday Koeman’s men picked up their first clean sheet of the season against Watford in the league and they did switch to a 3-5-2 formation for the first time at Vicarage Road.
Targett see’s it as an important moment “the main thing on Sunday was the clean sheet to get back to our good defensive ways on which we built last season.”
He ended in saying “If we keep a clean sheet in every game we have a platform to go on and get the win. There was more stability at the back and we have time to work on creating more upfront.”
There are no new fresh injury worries for either side but Sadio Mane looks set to miss out after he was forced off after 25
minutes against Watford.
Jay Rodriguez and Dusan Tadic could come back into the side after starting on the bench on Sunday.
Predicted line up: Stekelenburg, Soares, Caulker, Fonte,
Yoshida, Targett, Romeu, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Rodriguez
