Southampton fans were met with the news that a south coast clash is on the horizon for the Saints after they drew Championship side Bournemouth away in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
The Cherries, who were playing Southampton in the Premier League just last season, find themselves keen to prove they have the quality to bounce straight back to the top tier of English football. They already felled Premier League side Burnley to reach the quarter-finals and will be hoping for a similar upset against the Saints.
Southampton fans know that victory against their south coast rivals would take them to Wembley – a tantalising prospect for fans of a club which has not lifted the cup since 1976.
The Saints will be buoyed by their own 2-0 victory over fellow top-flight opponents Wolves, in which goals from Danny Ings and Stuart Armstrong sealed the Saints’ progression to the last eight of the tournament. The match saw a club debut for Mohammed Salisu, with Kyle Walker-Peters also returning from injury.
Many Saints fans reacted with jubilation and excitement at the prospect of facing Bournemouth, with many setting up the tie as a derby between two coastal cup contenders upon hearing confirmation of the news via the Saints’ official Twitter account…
#SaintsFC will travel to #AFCB in the final eight of the #EmiratesFACup: pic.twitter.com/CPKJAcY9RF
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) February 11, 2021
https://twitter.com/marz194_2/status/1359968458826534920
Twitter: @SouthamptonFC Best we could have hoped for. This is getting real
(@bfgfox)
Twitter: @SouthamptonFC Weve got the easiest
(@samuelsmith0810)
Twitter: @SouthamptonFC The Shane Long derby. #emiratesfacup (@jimmernally)
Twitter: @SouthamptonFC Best we could get from those teams remaining!
(@bazatron84)
Twitter: @SouthamptonFC WE’RE OFF TO WEMBLEY THEN
(@sam_ratliffe)
