trousers

Great first post. I fear that you're on the wrong forum though with such level headed thought patterns....! ;-)

To give fringe players and/or younsters a run out?

Yes, I know there's a difference between Chamberlain's current level and that of Wrad-Prowse. But you would still have to choose someone to leave out if Chamberlain was still here. I know Ward-Prowse is probably not quite up to the skill levels of those that curently occupy the 1st team midfield berths but either he's good enough to compete for a place or he isn't.

^ and this

^ This

Agree that it's somewhat of a dilema.....but....If we're gonna give youngsters a chance in League Cup games then there ought to be a reward at the end of it otheriwse why bother? Either Ward-Prowse is good enough to compete for a first team place or he's not, regardless of who's in the queue before him. To flip the question on it's head.....who would we be leaving out of the match-day squad if Chamberlain had stayed in the summer....? It's all relative....

Would like to see Ward-Prowse get a chance on the bench. Sounds like he may have earned it after tonight?

Sounds like a worthwhile evening just for that point alone. Yes, a fair few negatives (it would seem) but we could look back on this tie as the day that Ward-Prowse seized his opportunity and pushed on into the first team squad. Every cloud....

Half time 0-0 Happy with that

Palace corner

1 min added time

Palace go close. Offside.

Ward-Prowse not looking out of place according to DM

Half hour gone. Pretty even so far.

"Ben Reeves used to be a left back and Nigel has converted him into a striker" As you do...

Thanks :-)

Anyone else actually mildly excited by seeing a different Saints line-up for a change? I'm ever so slightly moist with anticipation...

I'm aged 43 and starting to feel very old looking at that photo!

Looks that way @jordansibley: So that's 10 changes from the draw with Reading on Saturday. Barnard returns to the squad on the bench and Butterfield is skipper #saintsfc