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A return to league action sees Southampton clash with Derby County at the Snows Stadium – The hosts look to keep the pressure on Group 2 leaders Leeds United, whilst the visitors from the East Midlands await their first points of the campaign.
It is exactly two months since these two teams last engaged in Premier League 2 action, and despite the contrast in league form, both teams have enjoyed a successful Premier League Cup run in the intermediary.
In fact, it has been an unbeaten Premier League Cup intermission for the two sides, who have both topped their respective groups.
Southampton have wrapped up top spot in Group F with a game to spare, whilst meanwhile, Derby won three from four to round off their group stage campaign, despite not having picked up a single point in the league.
Talented young Southampton starlet scored seven goals in the group stage, as the Saints B team scored an average of four goals per game on their way to the knockout stage.
On the other hand, Derby had to qualify the hard way, after failing to win in their first three group encounters. However, wins at QPR and Brighton paired with a home win against Bournemouth were enough to see the young Rams top the group with 11 points from six games.
The young Saints’ form this season has been a stark contradiction to that of the senior squad, who sit rock bottom of the Premier League with just 12 points from 18 games. Despite the bleak situation for the first team, this has not resulted in Premier League call-ups and opportunities for any of the B team squad.
Given Derby’s situation in League One, a few more chances have been afforded for sporadic appearances for members of the Derby U21 squad, despite their form in PL2.
Friday night’s game in Totton, on the outskirts of Southampton, will mark the halfway point of both teams PL2 campaigns, and whilst these are seemingly two squads with different trajectories, nothing can be taken for granted in football, even at academy level.
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