Hasenhuttl hints at Southampton priorities after FA Cup progress

Ralph Hasenhuttl suggested that Southampton could prioritise the FA Cup this season after reaching the quarter-finals.

Southampton have not won the competition for 45 years, but are now among the last eight teams in the competition this season.

Danny Ings and Stuart Armstrong struck in the second half as the Saints beat Wolves 2-0 to earn a quarter-final tie at Bournemouth.

The visitors were deserved winners at Molineux as they look to lift the trophy for the first time since 1976.

It was also the Saints’ first clean sheet in five games – having conceded 16 goals in their previous four outings, including last week’s 9-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Hasenhuttl said: “We are still in the Cup, which is fantastic.

“We said when we were more comfortable in the league we can focus on the Cup – we want to go for the FA Cup and this is a chance to win something.

“We haven’t had an easy time in the last few weeks so it’s important to win and they have been convinced about what they are doing.

“In the end we deserved to win. It’s not easy to create chances against Wolves, we had the better ones and we never stopped believing. This time we had luck with the VAR for the first time in a long time.

“We have a south coast derby now which is always intense and we will go there trying to win.”


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Nuno disappointed with manner of defeat

Meanwhile, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo admitted his displeasure at the manner of the goals they conceded against Southampton.

Looking ahead to the two teams meeting again on Sunday, this time in the Premier League, he said: “It was a tight game, tough, competitive with few spaces against a good side.

“In the second half, the way we conceded the first goal – I’m very disappointed with that, very disappointed.

“We are not producing enough. The final touch is not there and we are not clinical enough. We have problems in the final third of the pitch.

“It requires improvement. It requires better decisions and it is our job to improve our players. On Sunday we are going to face Southampton again and we need to give them a better fight.”

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