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Armstrong wants Southampton to turn form around in cup tie

Armstrong wants Southampton to turn form around in cup tie
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Defeat at Fulham on Saturday left the Saints in the Premier League's bottom three.

Midfielder Stuart Armstrong maintains Southampton have the quality needed to get their season back on track – and can show it with victory in the Carabao Cup tie at Leicester.

Saints boss Mark Hughes has found his position further under scrutiny after Premier League action resumed with a 3-2 defeat at Fulham on Saturday, leaving them in the relegation zone.

The only victory in the past 10 matches came via a penalty shoot-out win at Everton in the last round of the Carabao Cup back in early October.

Southampton will be looking to put themselves on the front foot again when they travel to the King Power Stadium for Tuesday night's tie, which was postponed following the death of Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash.

Scotland international Armstrong, signed from Celtic during the summer, scored both goals at Craven Cottage.

Armstrong accepts everyone in the squad must look to somehow dig out another positive result as they look to secure a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

"We have to learn from these games, of course we do," Armstrong told the club website.

"Tuesday is a good chance to make amends, move forward and progress.

"The quality is there – we have a very talented squad and I feel we're better than the league position shows.

"We've had a number of results where we've ended up with a draw when we've felt we could've had more, so we need to start turning those draws into wins."

Hughes hopes a win at Leicester could have a knock-on effect, with his side set to host Manchester United next in the Premier League before travelling to Tottenham.

"We've got an opportunity in the cup to give guys that have not had as much game time as some in recent weeks, that might shape my view in regard to Premier League games as well, so it is an opportunity for them," the Southampton manager said.

"It's a competition we want to stay in. The draw hasn't been too kind to us up to this point, with all Premier League teams.

"We have beaten two and are going to have to beat another one. We will give it a go."

Hughes believes his players have to focus on the game in hand, given the circumstances of the rearranged fixture.

"Clearly, Leicester are still dealing with the tragic loss of their owner. I'd imagine there's still a lot of emotion around every game they play," he said.

"We will have to deal with that in our own way, along with being respectful to them as well."

Danny Ings remains a doubt with a thigh problem, so the on-loan Liverpool forward could instead target a return to action for Saturday's league match against United.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
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4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
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18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
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RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


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