The Cherries have lost their last two league games 5-1, to Liverpool and Tottenham, but Koeman is not taking the fixture for granted.
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“We used to play Yeovil in League One and League Two and although that was considered a derby, it wasn’t akin to the Burnley-Blackburn or Portsmouth-Southampton rivalries”.
Southampton defender Jose Fonte is the only survivor from his team’s last showdowns with Bournemouth in League One and it would be little surprise if he finished on the winning side again.
“We played Southampton in League One a few years ago and that was a memorable game but this is in the Premier League so is totally different”.
They are eighth from 10 matches played so far this season and Clasie is confident the Saints can make another step up this term.
Southampton will not be able to call on strikers Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long, who both remain out.
Maya Yoshida has told the Daily Mirror that Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is always telling them of the importance of cup competitions.
Sadio Mane has been directly involved in seven Southampton goals in his last seven appearances (three goals, four assists).
“With all team selections, since I’ve been a manager, it’s been “pick the right player for this game, regardless of any historical association with that club”.
Yoshida and Graziano Pelle scored the goals which put the south coast club into the next round, and they are now just three wins away from lifting the trophy.
However, the erratic former Celtic goalkeeper missed Wednesday’s 1-0 League Cup defeat at Liverpool with a thigh problem and Howe will leave it until the last minute before deciding to recall him or stick with deputy Adam Federici. I am really looking forward to it because I’ve not been back since I left.
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The occasionally erratic Boruc had been struggling with his form in recent weeks but manager Eddie Howe has previously defended him and on Friday said: “It (selecting a goalkeeper) has been a hard decision every game we’ve had this season”. Tommy Elphick is out until December with an ankle injury.
