Saints take on the Eagles at St Mary's looking to keep the season going and reach the last 16 of the FA Cup.

The radio report on Talksport made sober listening, Saints are missing Alderweireld, Schneiderlin Rodriguez & Wanyama through injury, plus Yoshida, Mayuka & Mane to International tournaments whilst Palace are at full strength.

The neutral listener would think it looks pretty grim for Saints, but that news of missing Saints does not tell the full story, all of those players bar Wanyama were missing for the trip to Ipswich in the 3rd round replay and everyone of them were not available for the trip to Newcastle last Saturday and the fact that Saints won at St James Park perhaps tells you two things, firstly that Saints have strength in depth and secondly there is a spirit in this squad that has not been seen in a Saints side for many a year.

This being the case even with this depleted site, Saints have the players available to march on into the 5th round.

Indeed there is a old chance that for this game Ronald Koeman may have rested most of those players anyway and indeed Mayuka rarely played and likewise Yoshida. Add Rodriguez who has been out for nearly 10 months and the truth is Talkspot were looking for sensationalism and not the full picture.

So what line up will Koeman pick ?

He has already said he is taking this tournament seriously, but that doesn't mean there won't be changes, if Pellet was to be replaced by Long as he was for the replay at Ipswich the truth is Palace would love a player of Long's quality as fist choice let alone as coming off the bench or back up.

This will be the key, yes we have injuries but the players coming in are still proven in their own right and more to the point they have plenty to prove and as was shown at Newcastle when they get in the team they mean to prove it.

So much so that Saints fan no longer fear Morgan Schneiderlin leaving, in fact they almost welcome it, James Ward Prowse grows by the game and Harrison Reed likewise, they are the future of the club, we no longer fear change we embrace it.

But the job in hand is Crystal Palace and we need to win this game first time out and put ourselves in the draw for the next round, the FA Cup still reminds our best chance o success and we should continue to see it as so.

Of course no team can win every game, but now we play very much to a system, that system is very adaptable and changes shape and personnel regularly, however th key is the Koeman Touch, he keeps it simple and that is why so many players can slot in whatever the shape and continue to implement it.

It will be another full house, but unlike the Ipswich game we need to ramp up the atmosphere, get behind the team and take another big stepm towards this being perhaps the greatest in the season of the club, it has the potential.

Photo: Action Images

tiptop added 22:02 - Jan 23 Palace have arguably more goal threat than saints right now. Their ability to come form behind is well documented under AP. A case of our solidity overcoming their new found verve - in a cup game. A close one to call I think.
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GeordieSaint added 09:06 - Jan 24 Same team as last week for me. Cork as the option for all the midfielders on the bench and long to mix it up when needed. Quality professional performance last week and great games by JWP and REed. Same result please! Come on corky, get your pen out lad!!!!!
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Bison added 09:18 - Jan 24 Disagree with this statement Nick. "there is a spirit in this squad that has not been seen in a Saints side for many a year. " When Fonte was asked if the team believe they can hang onto top 4 and do they believe it's possible his response was we have believed for the last 5 years , we are not hanging on we are looking up. This team is not an overnight success it's been 5 years in the making.

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