FA Cup

[monks data]

Attendance: 17,110

FA Cup | Quarter-Finals

Mar 18, 2018 at 1.30pm UK

Wigan Wigan Athletic
0-2
Southampton

FT(HT: 0-0)

Hojbjerg (62'), Soares (90')

Ryan Bertrand: 'Southampton commitment, intensity up since Mark Hughes arrival'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 18 March 2018

Ryan Bertrand admits that Mark Hughes's appointment as Southampton manager following Mauricio Pellegrino's dismissal has had a galvanising effect on the team.

Ryan Bertrand has admitted that Mark Hughes's appointment as Southampton manager has had a galvanising effect on the team.

The full-back was involved as Saints booked a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 quarter-final victory at Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

Southampton parted ways with Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday following a tally of one win from their last 17 Premier League games, which has left them battling relegation.

Hughes was quickly appointed as the Argentine's replacement in the dugout and, speaking after the Welshman's maiden win in charge of the club, Bertrand was quick to sing his new manager's praises.

"The commitment and intensity has changed since the manager has come in," the England international told BBC Sport. "We have to apply that to our season.

"We competed and matched their aggressiveness and our quality came through.

"It is about learning a new system. We have two strikers up front and we don't want to starve them of the ball."

Southampton return to Premier League action after the international break on March 31 when they travel to West Ham United in a relegation six-pointer.