Saints will be looking to avoid a repeat of their last visit to MK Dons in what was Nigel Adkins first game in charge of the club.

Saints could have two starters from that 2-0 defeat just over five years & a week to that day in the side tonight if Ronald Koeman opts to give Kelvin Davis a run out, otherwise it will just be Jose Fonte left from a disappointing defeat which left Saints looking a long way from promotion contenders and if you had asked those up there that night if they could dream of what has happened in the next five years I would have expected them to laugh in your face.

This is an important game for Saints though, we need to kick start the season and we need to do it fast, one win in the opening 6 Premier Games has been a little disappointing although only 2 defeats tells a story in itself.

Tonight will give Ronald Koeman a chance to give his fringe players a run out and when you consider they include the likes of Caulker, Long, Juanmi, Rodriguez, not to mention Bertrand & Soares, all of whom (Long aside) played no part on Sunday it highlights the strength of the squad these days.

But the worry is that too many mistakes have been made by individual error and lapses in concentration, Koeman has to nip this in the bud now and this game gives him the opportunity to show those making the errors that there is no room for that anymore, there are plenty waiting for their chance if a player does not perform.

So it is going to be a bit of squad rotation for the Dutch manager, but make no mistake he is still trying to win the game, the six mentioned in the above paragraph are all International's.

One player who looks likely to be missing is Graziano Pelle perhaps our most consistent player this season and certainly our man of the match on Sunday, he has a foot injury and looks set to be rested.

But it is more than just giving the fringe players a game or kick starting the season, it is also about glory, we are at a plateau as a club solid mid table is fine but if we want to keep progressing and qualifying for Europe we have to challenge for honours, we have to try and win trophies and qualify for Europe in doing so and a win tonight is a step in the right direction.

So with respect to MK Dons they are a side we need to look at despatching and doing so well and we should be looking to at least repeat last season's quarter final place, if not better it.

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 14:10 - Sep 23 It is certainly a good second test (after the Danish debacle) for the, oft repeated on here, theory that we have a stronger squad than last year. Yes all of those mentioned are internationals but that doesn't really mean much (even without the apostrophe) if you look at the players concerned - even Martina is an 'international' of sorts and I doubt he would get in the MK Dons team...

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jmsaint added 14:59 - Sep 23 The Dons manager has openly stated he doesn't care about the southampton game is is already focused on thier next league game next weekend. I seems as though it could be less a good test and more a romp for the fringe players, need to maintain focus and make it so however!
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1970 added 16:47 - Sep 23 it doesn't fill me with the greatest confidence but here goes Gazzinigga,Martina(right) fonte,Caulker,Bertrand,(Targett on the bench) Wanyama needs to be flogged like a dead horse until the summer lol,Ward-Prowse,Soares (right) J-Rod (left) Classie in the hole and long up front I think Seager deserves his chance on the bench but all these players except Fonte need game time or some improving but a big risk if we want to progress coyr 3-1 saints.

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