OptiNews - Friday 16 to Thursday 22 March 2018

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Sourced from The Independent article

Mark Hughes says league survival is Southampton’s ‘huge concern’ despite reaching FA Cup semi-finals

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Mark Hughes welcomed the chance to take Southampton to Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals, but said the club’s priority remains survival in the Premier League.

Southampton beat Wigan 2-0 at the DW Stadium on Sunday thanks to second-half goals by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Cedric Soares, as Hughes’s tenure at the club began with a victory.

“This was an important fixture,” said Hughes. “Though clearly our Premier League status is a huge concern for us and we’ve got to retain that. We had to show the qualities and traits today that a good team has to show on a regular basis and maybe they haven’t done that prior to me coming to the club.

“But the time I’ve been with them, I’ve see good quality and application and maybe they’ve been hurt by the criticism of themselves, as individuals and as a group. Today was the first step towards addressing those criticisms. We haven’t been able to work with them very long but I’m excited by the group.

“I think there is good quality, good traits, good behaviours which we can work on. It’s only a short-term deal, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. Now Wembley will be a nice occasion. I’ve been to a few semi-finals as a manager but never quite made it to Wembley.

“We will enjoy it and try and take some positives out of it – to hopefully help us in our league form as well.”

Wigan manager Paul Cook said he could have no complaints with the performance of his players. “The cup has been a massive headache in the league but it’s been great,” said Cook. “You can’t ask any more of the players, they have been a credit to the club and represented League One really well.

“You can’t ask for any more than four games against four Premier League teams and the Man City game will live long in the memory. It’s a massive disappointment to go out so close to Wembley but the focus now is promotion.”

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Mark Hughes highlights important traits which can guide Southampton to Premier League safety

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Mark Hughes believes he has seen important traits in Southampton to take with them into a Premier League relegation battle after his new side defeated Wigan 2-0 to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

After the League One side dominated the first half, Saints stepped up their level after the break and scored through Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Cedric Soares, while Manolo Gabbiadini also had a penalty brilliantly saved by Christian Walton.

Before Hughes can think about Wembley, he must try to turn around Southampton’s form in the league, where they have won just once in the last 17 games and sit two points from safety.

The former Stoke boss said: "This was an important fixture. Clearly, our Premier League status is a huge concern to us and we want to retain that and that is a big part of the remit I have.

"Today was a game we could take the maximum we needed in terms of positivity and we’ve been able to do that. We had to show a lot of the qualities and traits a good team has to show on a regular basis and maybe that hasn’t been sustained prior to me coming to the club.

"In the short time I’ve been with them I have seen good quality, good application and a group of players who have maybe been a little bit hurt by criticism. I think today maybe you saw steps to address that criticism.

"I have the utmost respect for Paul (Cook) and his team. I thought they were excellent. We knew they would test us. I just felt we made good decisions today, certainly in the second half.

“I wanted us to be a bit more dominant and play in the opposition half. Getting in front was important for us. We could have made it more comprehensive but that would have been hard on them. We are delighted we got a positive result.”

Hughes has only been given a contract until the end of the season after replacing Mauricio Pellegrino, and he added: “I’m looking forward to the challenge. It’s not going to be easy, it’s a short-term deal but it’s a good start for everybody. I am excited by the group, I think there’s good quality. The raw talent is there.”

Wigan had claimed three successive Premier League scalps in reaching their third FA Cup quarter-final in six seasons, including Manchester City in the last round.

Given Southampton’s struggles, they looked more than capable of causing another upset but it was not to be and the Latics must now focus solely on their League One promotion bid.

Manager Paul Cook said: "It is a difficult one when the prize is so great for a club like ours. I was fearful at half-time because I felt we had played that well in the first half and hadn’t got enough out of the game. You’re wary of Southampton’s quality, they’ve got some outstanding individuals.

"Second half I thought the game was quite scrappy, although Southampton certainly grew into the game. Did they deserve the victory? I think it was a little bit harsh on us but we certainly wish Southampton well in the semi-finals.

“There are those key moments you have to manage in a game and we didn’t. The first goal was a massive disappointment. But I can’t ask any more of the players, they’ve been a credit to the club. I think we’ve represented League One in a really good way. Now the focus is on promotion.”

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 18/03/2018 21:42:29

| | Sam McQueen reacts to Southampton win on TwitterHEREISTHECITY |
| | LIVE: FA Cup Semi-Final Draw - Manchester United, Spurs And Saints Discover Their FateTHESPORTSMAN |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

The pick of the action shots from #WAFC as #SaintsFC reached the #EmiratesFACup semi-final:… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/975492040678170625

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Sourced from BBC article

FA Cup Highlights: Wigan 0-2 Southampton

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Chelsea win at Leicester in extra time in tight FA Cup tie

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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Mark Hughes sees FA Cup win as springboard to Southampton survival

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Mark Hughes spent four days surveying Southampton, concluding his players have been severely damaged by criticism, and left Wigan claiming that this stoic performance will act as a springboard to Premier League survival.

Having only signed a short-term deal until June, Hughes is seen as a quick fix by the board and certainly needs one himself. It is perhaps why he looked quite so animated at full-time, punching the air and pumping his fists towards the away end.

This might have merely been victory away at a League One club but his actions suggested Hughes weighed great significance on his first hurdle.

‘Our Premier League status is a huge concern to us,’ he said. 'I’ve seen a group of players who are perhaps a little bit hurt by criticism of them as individuals and a group.

‘This will be good for them. There are good qualities, good traits and good behaviours. There is a collective - they are really close. It’s not going to be easy. It’s a short-term deal and I’ve got to make the best of that.’

The best of that would be pocketing the £1million bonus for keeping Southampton up and much rests on the trip to fractured West Ham United in a fortnight.

Banishing negativity around Staplewood is his primary aim, and the new manager booked a Wembley semi-final after smartly reverting to zonal marking in a quest to sharpen up at set pieces. It worked a treat and 10 Wigan corners were defended resolutely before the break.

‘I was fearful at half-time because we had played so well and hadn’t got enough,’ Wigan boss Paul Cook said. ‘We were wary of Southampton’s quality. Did they deserve the victory? I think it was a bit harsh on us.’

The next job for Hughes is a search for more goals. Southampton had only scored twice against West Brom since January 13 and his team selection suggested the eggs are being thrown in an Italian basket.

Manolo Gabbiadini is the man Hughes trusted, a big call and huge show of faith for someone who has started just once this calendar year and scored one goal since October, but looking at this squad, profligate in the extreme, who else can Hughes nail his colours to?

Gabbiadini has four goals this term yet only Charlie Austin has found the net more. Austin has six goals and started five matches in another injury-ravaged campaign. That he is their top scorer is frankly an embarrassment.

With Austin fit they’d unquestionably be well out of trouble but he remains sidelined and Hughes has no choice other than roll the dice with Gabbiadini. If the gamble pays off then it will do handsomely. If it doesn’t then relegation looks an inevitability.

Despite that, his manager suggested positive signs were apparent. He knows if one goes in a flurry will follow given Gabbiadini’s penchant for purple patches.

‘That was Manolo’s first, nearly 90 minutes since before Christmas,’ Hughes added. ‘He showed me enough. I know that when he is up to speed, he can be a real threat for us.’

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Sourced from Daily Star article

FA Cup draw: Man Utd, Tottenham, Southampton and Chelsea learn their semi-final fate

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Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring as Man Utd beat Brighton in the quarter-finals

Manchester United booked their place in the final four thanks to a comfortable win over Brighton at Old Trafford.

Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic either side of half-time kept Jose Mourinho’s side in the hunt for their second FA Cup in three years.

Following last week’s Champions League exit at the hands of Sevilla, the competition remains United’s only chance of silverware this season.

Tottenham also eased into the semis with a 3-0 win at struggling Swansea.

Erik Lamela’s strike was sandwiched between a brace from Christian Eriksen and Spurs will have home advantage in a clash at Wembley.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Video: Hughes reacts to quarter-final win

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Watch Mark Hughes’s first post-match interview as Southampton manager, after seeing his team defeat Wigan Athletic of League One to advance to the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 18/03/2018 22:42:44

| | Hughes excited by Southampton quality | Goal.comGOALDOTCOM |
|

| Southampton should seriously cut all their losses on £7.2m-rated striker this summer | | Where football transfer …THETRANSFERTAVERN |

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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Southampton boss Mark Hughes happy with FA Cup quarter-final win, but wants focus to return to Premier League

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Mark Hughes has admitted Southampton’s focus will return to the Premier League despite securing a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Despite a nervy performance at the DW Stadium on Sunday, the Saints overcame Wigan 2-0 thanks to goals from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Cedric.

And Hughes, who took over from Mauricio Pellegrino earlier this month, has admitted they must take the feel-good factor of the win into their Premier Legaue form.

He said: “Clearly there’s been a lack of confidence in the group, it’s been a poor period for them in terms of results so we had to change that round today.

“That was key for me, if we could get a positive out of this.

“The work we’ve done since I’ve come in and the positivity of this result will help us moving forward.

“Obviously the Premier League will come into focus now after the international break and we’ll benefit from the positivity that we’ve claimed from this game.”

Southampton have a week off to allow for the international fixtures, before a proverbial six-pointer sees them travel to the London Stadium to face West Ham on March 31.

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Sourced from London Evening Standard article

FA Cup semi-final draw: Man Utd vs Spurs, Chelsea vs Southampton

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Tottenham and Manchester United will face off at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup final, with Chelsea and Southampton competing in the other clash.

United are aiming to match Arsenal’s record number of 13 wins, having both finished as runners-up seven times and now face Spurs at their temporary home.

Spurs and United have already met twice this season, with Jose Mourinho & Co. coming out on top at Old Trafford in the Premier League in October before being dismantled at Wembley in January with Christian Eriksen scoring after just 10 seconds.

Their previous FA Cup meeting came in the fourth round in 2008-09 as Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov cancelled out Roman Pavlychenko’s opener. The last time Spurs beat United in the FA Cup, Ossie Ardiles scored the only goal in a 1-0 third-round replay win at Old Trafford in 1979-80.

Chelsea have won 12 of their previous 22 semi-final outings. The last three times the Blues knocked Leicester City out of the FA Cup, they went on to win the competition.

Tottenham have won the competition eight times, one more than Chelsea, but have lost 11 of their 20 appearances in the last four. Once in the final, though, they have won eight of nine.

Southampton are set to make their 12th semi-final outing, winning just four of the previous 11. They last made the FA Cup semi-final in 2002-03 where they beat Watford at Villa Park before losing to Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium.

Saints have lost in their previous four meetings with Chelsea, conceding nine goals, and meet again in the Premier League on April 14.

The two teams last met in the FA Cup in January 2013, with Chelsea running out convincing 5-1 winners at St. Mary’s as Demba Ba scored twice on this debut.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Gallery: Wigan 0-2 Saints

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Take a look back at the best photos from the DW Stadium where Saints secured their place in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Wigan 0-2 Southampton: ‘that was a statement of intent’ says Hughes

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MARK Hughes branded Saints’ 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final win at Wigan a “statement of intent” ahead of their Premier League relegation run-in.

A vastly improved second-half display at the DW Stadium saw Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg and Cedric Soares’ fire home their first goals for the club and forge passage to the Wembley semi-final next month.

Giant killers and League One high-fliers Wigan, who had beaten Bournemouth, West Ham and Manchester City to reach the last eight, dominated the first-half but Saints rallied after the interval.

It could have been 3-0 but for a sensational save from Latics goalkeeper Christian Walton from Manolo Gabbiadini’s penalty, after the Italian had been brought down by Dan Burn.

Now Saints head into an international break after a confidence-boosting win, before a HUGE relegation six-pointer at West Ham on March 31.

“It was an important day for us today. It was a difficult week for the guys even before I arrived at the club,” said Hughes.

“As I said before the match today, I’d been really impressed with the quality in the club itself.

“They’d lost a little bit of confidence obviously of late and that can happen, but I’m really pleased with the amount of talent that I’ve got to work with in this group.

“We were tested by Wigan, they were an absolute credit to their manager and fans.

“I congratulate them on how hard they pushed us, but I have to stay we stood up to that.

“People questioned this group before I arrived and maybe questioned my appointment as well.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do in the Premier League, clearly, but we’ll enjoy this moment and the Wembley semi-final which is a great experience for the fans to look forward to.”

Saints, who are 18th in the Premier League - two points from safety after this weekend’s results, were under the cosh in the first 45 minutes, but grew into the game after Hughes urged his side to impose themselves on the game.

“I thought we did well up to a point without really creating a enough in the final third,” he said.

“I wanted to play more in their half after the break and I thought we started brightly in that regard, played more in their half, were resolute and when balls needed to be defended and we needed to clear our lines.

“Conditions were difficult for both teams but we made good decisions at the right times and in key moments of the game.

“As a consequence it was an assured performance.”

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Saints to face Chelsea at Wembley

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Saints will get the away dressing room at Wembley when they take on Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final.

Mark Hughes will lead his side out at Wembley on either April 21 or 22 for the showpiece tie after Saints booked their place in the last four with a 2-0 win at Wigan.

The other semi-final will see Manchester United take on Tottenham.

The exact dates for the matches will be confirmed once TV have made their selections for the games, and the clubs and police have been consulted.

Saints face the Blues in the Premier League the weekend before the semi-final tie. Chelsea have won the last four meetings between the sides.

Antonio Conte’s team made it through to the semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Leicester, which was secured in extra-time.

Alvaro Morata scored for the first time this year when he broke the deadlock shortly before half-time with a composed finish, only for Foxes striker Jamie Vardy to level inside the final quarter of an hour from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

But the tie was settled in extra-time when Chelsea substitute Pedro pipped Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to N’Golo Kante’s left-wing cross.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Saints to face Chelsea in Wembley semi-final

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Saints booked their place at the national stadium courtesy of a 2-0 win at Wigan in Mark Hughes’s first game in charge, while Chelsea edged out Leicester 2-1 after extra time at the King Power Stadium.

It is Saints’ first appearance in the last four since 2003, when Gordon Strachan’s side went on to reach the final with a 2-1 victory over Watford at Villa Park.

The tie will take place on the weekend of April 21st to 22nd, meaning Saints’ Premier League fixture against Leicester will need to be rescheduled.

Manchester United will face Tottenham Hotspur in the other semi-final.

An exact date and ticketing details for the Chelsea clash will be confirmed in due course.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Video: Højbjerg’s DW delight

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Wigan 0-2 Southampton: Saints book Wembley spot in Hughes’ first game

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Saints are through to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 15 years after a 2-0 victory over Wigan in Mark Hughes’ first game in charge.

Wigan were looking to reach the last four for the third time in six seasons and the 2013 winners dominated the first half but paid for not taking their chances.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hooked in a 62nd-minute corner for his first Saints goal and Manolo Gabbiadini then had a 73rd-minute penalty brilliantly saved by Christian Walton before Cedric Soares added a second in stoppage time.

Paul Cook’s men can now focus on their League One promotion push after another memorable cup run, including the scalp of Manchester City in the last round, while Hughes will hope this result can be the catalyst for a push towards Premier League safety.

For all Wigan’s dominance, summed up by 10 corners to Southampton’s zero, the first half was desperately short of clear-cut chances.

It was the visitors who had the first opening when Walton dropped an 11th-minute free-kick at the feet of Guido Carrillo but the striker’s lack of confidence showed as he poked the ball weakly back into the goalkeeper’s arms.

Nathan Byrne gave Southampton a torrid time down the right and he sparked chaos in the Saints’ defence five minutes later but his shot took a deflection and, with Chey Dunkley just unable to apply the finishing touch, the ball rolled past a post.

Mario Lemina, Sofiane Boufal and Gabbiadini offered moments of danger but the consistent pressure was coming from Wigan and Gary Roberts was the next to go close, choosing an attempted lob after Jack Stephens met a long ball with a weak header when he might have been better going for power.

Alex McCarthy was finally tested in the 42nd minute when a Max Power corner moved viciously in the wind and would have dipped under the bar but for a strong hand from the keeper.

Hughes was far from pleased as he walked off for half-time but it did not take long in the second period for Southampton to start to look like the higher-division side After Michael Jacobs went close for Wigan, Boufal produced Southampton’s best effort in the 57th minute with a free-kick that landed on the roof of the Wigan net and a careless back pass from Byrne left Gabbiadini with only Walton to beat but the keeper produced a fine save to bail out his team-mate.

And, unlike Wigan, Saints capitalised on their superiority. Walton pushed over Hojbjerg’s bullet header but the keeper was unable to prevent the same player hooking in the resulting corner.

Cook responded by sending on Nick Powell, who he ruled out on Friday because of a hamstring problem, and Ryan Colclough for Roberts and Gavin Massey while Nathan Redmond came on for Southampton.

But Saints were a different proposition now and Latics defender Dan Burn had his head in his hands when his desperate lunge to stop Gabbiadini after he had been played clean through by Ryan Bertrand resulted in a penalty. Gabbiadini struck the ball towards the corner but Walton flung himself to his left and pushed it away.

Wigan pushed increasingly desperately for one final chance and Noel Hunt should have tested McCarthy but could not get enough on his header. Moments later Cedric broke away before finishing confidently past Walton to book Southampton’s place at Wembley.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 18/03/2018 23:43:06

| | £18m-rated defender? £5.4m-rated man? Who has made the most chances at Southampton this season?FOOTBALLFANCAST |
| | Southampton fans slam Guido Carrillo’s display against WiganHEREISTHECITY |
| | Saints in the semiOFFCHELSEA |
| | FA Cup Semi Final Draw: Chelsea handed easy route to final as Man United given difficult clash against Premier …CAUGHTOFFSIDE |
|

| Mark Hughes encouraged by Southampton’s win at Wigan ahead of relegation fightBTSPORT |

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

All the pictures from Saints’ triumph over Wigan

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Wigan dominated the first-half, but Saints came into their own after the break and grew so much in confidence.

They threw the shackles off and defeated their League One opposition comfortably.

The opening goal came on 62 minutes, as Dusan Tadic found Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from a corner, the Dane volleying home to score his first goal for the club.

Nathan Redmond threaded in Manolo Gabbiadini on 73 minutes and the Italian was pulled down by Dan Burn to gift Saints a penalty.

But Christian Walton made a superb save from the spot kick to deny Gabbiadini, who struck the ball hard and true but couldn’t squeeze it past the Brighton loan man in the Latics net.

Wigan were busy looking for an equaliser when Saints, and particularly Cedric, took the wind out of their sails, scoring a superb breakaway goal.

The Portuguese right-back galloped down the left, cut in and curled superbly home at the near post to make it 2-0.

Freelance photographer James Williams was at DW Stadium to capture all of the action from the FA Cup quarter final match between Wigan and Southampton - so be sure to check out the pictures above.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 19/03/2018 00:43:21

| | Chelsea draw Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finalSBNATIONWEAINTGOTNOHISTORY |
| | Every word from Chelsea boss on Morata, Willian and drawing SouthamptonFOOTBALLLONDON |

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