Against Stoke City Russell martin selected a side that was very much a second string line up, with the play offs looming should the manager repeat this for the trip to take on Leeds on Saturday.

After Coventry won at Coventry City last night, Saints game at Elland Road no longer has so much riding on it, the Tractor Boys are now 3 points ahead of Leeds and they have a plus 6 better goal difference.

Now some Southampton cynics will claim that overcoming this will not be a problem for Leeds given they are playing us and point to our recent trip to Leicester City, but the stark fact for Leeds is that they would still have to rely on Ipswich losing to Huddersfield with their fellow Yorkshire side all but relegated with even a win at Portman Road needing to overturn a -15 goal difference over Plymouth.

So even the most fervent Leeds fan will probably not attending the game on Saturday with much hope of a miracle happening.

So what is Russell Martin's next move, does he put out his best side at Elland Road and hope to try and get it to play itself back into good form, or does he do as he did against Stoke and put out a virtual second string.

Out of the starting XI against Stoke, it could be said that only 4 players were genuine first team starters in our best line up, Kyle Walker Peters, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Will Smallbone & Ryan Fraser.

Some would contest this, but if we look at the side that went so long unbeaten these 4 were in the starting line up.

So does the manager wrap up members of his squad in cotton wool again this weekend to avoid injury against a Leeds side who will have to go for it and look for goals and then hope for a miracle at Portman Road, or does he put out his best side.

The problem is it could backfire either way, but there is more risk to playing his best XI than not, if he does so, then he not only risks injury to key players, but he risks a further decline in morale and spirit should our best line up lose heavily to Leeds.

This would give them a big boost as both teams head to the play offs.

So I would suspect that Russell Martin will again go for a weakened starting XI on the premise that you cannot lose if you throw the game and if we did win it then we would ourselves have a big boost to our morale.

On the other hand if we played the best side and won, that could kick start the season again and give us a big boost going into the play offs and suddenly the cylinders are all firing again.

It is a tricky decision for the manager, which tactic you would prefer is probably based on your confidence in Martin's ability to not only pick his best side, but organise and motivate it.

In the other dugout Daniel Farke also has the same dilemma, his side have also dropped off in recent weeks, in fact their form is just as bad as Saints, in the last 7 Championship games they have won just twice, drawn another two and lost three, their 8 points is 2 less than the 10 we have gained in the same 7 game period.

That should give us some hope going into the play offs, Leeds have conceded 13 goals in those 7 games, that is 2 more than the 11 we have let in, in the same period.

Saints fans moan that our side has problems, Leeds are in just as much turmoil.

But they still have something to play for in this game, albeit a very feint hope of a Huddersfield victory and so they will need to go for win or bust and do their job and then pray.

So perhaps Farke will also not put out his best XI, perhaps he to will opt to rest players and not risk injury, but leave his big guns on the bench ready to be brought on if there is good news from Portman Road.

Whatever the line ups I suspect that Sky Sports are probably regretting selecting this game for TV coverage, there will probably be far more excitement at the bottom of the table.

Photo: Action Images

saintmark1976 added 09:28 - May 1 Nick, at the end of Saturday afternoon I don’t imagine it will make any difference, but haven’t you got the goal difference between Leeds and Ipswich the wrong way round or am I just having a senior moment?
2

stmichael added 09:48 - May 1 It’s a difficult one. On the one hand there is the question of momentum and integrity to the league. On the other hand an injury to a key player would be disastrous.. Not sure which way I would go tbh
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Frank_Xerox added 10:04 - May 1 If ever there was a match we could do without, this is it. I'd go for an obviously weakened team to protect our key players. That way, even if Leeds get a big win it shouldn't be too much of a morale boost/loss either way. That said, if he risks our strongest line up and they gain some injury-free momentum then I'll be happy to be wrong - again!
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kingolaf added 11:05 - May 1 Reserves. Give Meghoma, Ayew and Dibling some experience as well. Pointless us risking players, we are 4th regardless. I couldn’t give a monkeys about other teams and league integrity.
7

JoeEgg added 11:06 - May 1 "After Coventry won at Coventry City last night," Yes its been a long hard season Nick Perhaps you should get a 'reserve' writer to produce the next update?!!
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Dellwizard added 12:03 - May 1 It's Leeds who have the +6 better goal differnce, not Ipswich. If Ipswich lose and Leeds win. Leeds will be up !
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HoustonSaint added 12:04 - May 1 Reserves. You don’t want to give Leeds any full strength info that they could use if we met them in what would be the playoff final. It’s a real long shot for them anyway with the 6 goal difference & Ipswich only need a draw.
1

beynali73 added 12:06 - May 1 Will the outcome be any different regardless of personnel ? I guess as Leeds will be playing for automatic promotion they may be willing to hurt our key players to win so may as well play the reserves. It's been a weird season and one I'm still trying to work out if its been success so far or not. I suppose on balance it's been successful but frustrating in equal measure. COYRs

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HoustonSaint added 12:06 - May 1 Correction. I see Leeds have the better goal difference.
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A1079 added 12:16 - May 1 Assuming RM knows which players he wants to play in the playoffs you would hope that they are aware and they are training together as a unit so that they are fired up and fully understanding as a group what is expected of them (irrespective of who we may face in the playoffs). If that is happening, then I would not risk them for the Leeds game. As others have said, Leeds have the better goal difference to Ipswich so should there be a fluke Huddersfield win, Leeds could be promoted if they win.

1

IanRC added 12:53 - May 1 He should give Sulemana a start, scandalous how little playing time he has had in my opinion.
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sandywelsh added 13:16 - May 1 A full reserve team that includes McCarthy and Stephens. We don't want to risk any of our best players getting injured!!!
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Farlow added 16:57 - May 1 Losing is a bad habit and we,ve definitely got the habit.He should definitely give the trhee outstanding youngsters a go they woulb be an improvement on what we saw against Stoke. Sulemana must be given a go
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Colburn added 17:06 - May 1 No pressure on Huddersfield and plenty of nerves for Ipswich. They deserve second but anything can happen on the last day so I expect Farke to put out a full strength side. If he doesn’t and Ipswich lose, he will be hounded out by the fans and the board! Obviously Leeds will start at their strongest… As for us, as mentioned above by some, we should give an opportunity to and trust our youth. Meghoma, Lumley, Dibling and Ameyaw at least. I also couldn’t care less about other clubs and league integrity, it’s about us doing what we need to in readiness for playoffs. Agree Sulemana should start and Stewart to see grass at some point. Wouldn’t play Downes unless he really needs to, he’s the one who makes the difference, it will be a tall order without him next week, etc

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Monksway added 19:11 - May 1 I'm guessing it will be a mix, leaving out those critical players - Downes, Adams, Armstrong, KWP but including those still pushing to be part of the play off squad.
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Staycalm added 14:04 - May 2 I say, go for a strong team and make the players reallise they have to up their game now ahead of the play-offs. If RM thinks he can get away with sending out a side like Botley FC, then think they will be Barcelona next match, he is even more deluded than I had thought!!!
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