MATCHWATCH : Southampton (A) - Checkatrade Trophy Last 32

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

Team:

Anssi Jaakkola
Tennai Watson
Niall Keown
Jake Cooper (c)
Ramarni Medford-Smith
Sandro Wieser
Andy Rinomhota
Josh Barrett
Yakou Meite
Sam Smith
Danny Loader

Bench: Southwood, Griffin, Bennett, East, Vancooten, Frost

So Jaakkola makes his return from injury starting in goal tonight, and I'm guessing it'll be a 4-3-3, with Meite, Smith and Loader starting up top. Big night for Danny Loader, who only turned 16 a few months back, and 18-year old Medford-Smith is chosen ahead of Shane Griffin at left-back. The cup tradition of only naming 6 subs continues

Winner is rewarded with a trip to Yeovil, and Southampton's side tonight features Welsh international Lloyd Isgrove, otherwise it's a fairly young side from them, captain Alfie Jones scored in a 3-1 win over our U23s earlier this season. Since then however in the league they've won just once, losing 4 of their last 5, although did beat Crawley 4-0 in the last round of this competition

Commentary on BBC Radio Berkshire, or live on Southampton's website here https://southamptonfc.com/news/2016-12- ... on-reading

[Sutekh]

25 minutes in and still 0-0, Cooper booked.

[Sutekh]

Lloyd Isgrove scores for Southampton after 29 minutes

[LWJ]

Masters of our own downfall at the moment.

A lot of Southampton chances are coming from sloppy passing. Saints look like they have set out to draw the game and are pretty solid at the back.

[Sutekh]

HT Southampton 1-0 Reading

[sandman]

Masters of our own downfall at the moment.

A lot of Southampton chances are coming from sloppy passing. Saints look like they have set out to draw the game and are pretty solid at the back.

Wow who'd a thunked it.

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

Isgrove, Southampton's only overage player tonight I believe, played 35 times for Barnsley last season, and made his senior debut for Wales earlier this year

Been listening to Tim and Adie, which is pretty painful stuff, I get the feeling Dellor would rather just be left on his own. They haven't really spoken much about tonight's game, apart from Adie asking "if this was a league game at the Madejski Stadium, would we see a bigger crowd?"

Only having 6 subs means we haven't got a huge amount on the bench to hopefully come on and change things. I'm guessing Novakovich, Cardwell and our EFL Trophy top scorer Mendes are all injured

[Sutekh]

1-1 Reading equalise after 49 minutes. BBC Berks have no idea who scored

Later confirmed as Niall Keown with a header

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

The Saints hashtag on Twitter is just as busy as ours tonight, so not much being said about the game

That equaliser all down to Zonal marking. Don't understand why it's used at all #saintsfc

[LWJ]

We are all over them this half so far. Southampton can't string a pass together.

We will probably concede now

[LWJ]

Frost replaces Smith.

Smith has done a lot of running tonight without getting much of the ball. Seemed to always have a yard of room though

[Sutekh]

Tyler Frost on for Sam Smith

[LWJ]

Miete looks a standard above he majority of players on the pitch. Still very raw but very promising

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

Listening to Southampton commentary now, recognise the commentator from the U23 stream we had earlier in the season and thought he was pretty good, does his research on the Reading players... no idea who the co-commentator is, I think he's a Saints player, not much insight from him (Edit: It's Olufela Olomola)

Sounds like we're well on top, but as always with this competition there's no extra-time, so we're heading towards penalties

[NewCorkSeth]

The Saints hashtag on Twitter is just as busy as ours tonight, so not much being said about the game

That equaliser all down to Zonal marking. Don't understand why it's used at all #saintsfc

Doesn't understand zonal marking??? Is that a joke?

[LWJ]

I don't think we will see Cooper play much first team football under Stam. Not good enough at passing. A lot of sloppy moments from Him tonight

[LWJ]

Watson on the other hand continues to impress

[LWJ]

Gone a bit scrappy now and looks like we are destined for penalties

[LWJ]

Barrett hits the bar after cutting in from left. Great effort.

[LWJ]

Save down low from jakkolla, Southampton seemed to stroll through with ease after some more sloppy passing. Rebound fired hire and wide.