Southampton v Exeter preview

Team news for Saturday's League One clash between Southampton and Exeter City at St Mary's.

Last Updated: 31/12/10 at 13:23   

Holmes: Missing for Saints

Holmes: Missing for Saints

Lee Holmes is the only absentee ahead of Southampton's clash with Exeter on New Year's Day.

The former Derby winger underwent surgery on his injured ankle earlier in December and will miss the rest of the season.

Midfielder Danny Butterfield will hope to have recovered in time from the dead leg he suffered in the 4-1 win over Huddersfield.

Left-back Joseph Mills, winger Jason Puncheon and midfielder Anthony Pulis continue their loan spells away from the club and will not return to the squad in time.

Striker Rickie Lambert scored against the Terriers and will look to improve his haul of seven league goals to remain the club's top scorer.

Nigel Adkins' side can enter the automatic promotion places but are also in danger of losing their play-off position if they fail to win.

Exeter will resume their promotion push with a clean bill of health for the trip.

Paul Tisdale's men have not played since December 18, when they thrashed Sheffield Wednesday, keeping his charges fresh for the encounter at St Mary's.

Troy Archibald-Henville returns after missing the 5-1 defeat of the Owls through a one-match suspension.

Tisdale may tinker with his squad with the Grecians one point off the play-offs.

He told thisisdevon.co.uk: "We have got a good core of 17 or 18 players and the 11 who play on Saturday will probably not be the same 11 that play the rest of the season.

"I want the squad to stay together because I think we have got a chance of pushing even further up the table."

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

League One Fixtures

There are no fixtures at present.

npower League 1

Position Team P GD PTS
1 Doncaster 46 18 84
2 Bournemth 46 23 83
3 Brentford 46 15 79
4 Yeovil 46 15 77
5 Sheff Utd 46 14 75
6 Swindon 46 33 74
7 Leyton Or 46 7 71
8 MK Dons 46 17 70
9 Walsall 46 7 68
10 Crawley 46 1 68
11 Tranmere 46 10 67
12 Notts Co 46 12 65
13 Crewe 46 -8 64
14 Preston 46 5 59
15 Coventry 46 7 55
16 Shrewsbury 46 -6 55
17 Carlisle 46 -21 55
18 Stevenage 46 -17 54
19 Oldham 46 -13 51
20 Colchester 46 -21 51
21 Scunthorpe 46 -24 48
22 Bury 46 -28 41
23 Hartlepool 46 -28 41
24 Portsmouth 46 -18 32

Updated Sat, 27 Apr 2013

Footer 365

Carlisle announces retirement

Northampton defender and Professional Footballers' Association chairman Clarke Carlisle has called time on his playing career.

Mitchell: No approach for Howe

Bournemouth chairman Eddie Mitchell insists there haven't been any approaches for manager Eddie Howe, amid reported interest from Everton.

Pulis: Get behind my successor

Tony Pulis has urged Stoke fans to get behind whoever succeeds him as the club's manager, saying he "wishes the club the best in the future".

Mail Box

An Ode To Rafa And Loads More Mails...

We have one Chelsea fan who recognises the job done by Rafa Benitez while there's maths from Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester. And Shawcross to Arsenal? Nah...

Mails: Jol Out And Other Demands...

You might notice that we haven't included a single mail about teams in pubs, because most of them were terrible. Instead we have a disgruntled Fulham fan and Scouse maths...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved