Win At All Costs – Ings

Southampton striker Danny Ings has been involved in many big derby games in his life but he believes the south-coast clash is the biggest one for him. The Southampton-born forward is ready for the eagerly awaited clash with Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night and he says it means as much to him as it does to the fans of both sides.

Ings has been involved in the east Lancashire derby for Burnley against Blackburn and he has been involved in the Merseyside derby for Liverpool against Everton but his biggest dream is to score the winner for Southampton at Fratton Park on Tuesday.

“It would be huge to score the winner. It would be huge for me and my family and my friends. I go into that game if I do play as the other lads do which is to win the game first and foremost but to get a goal would be incredible for me.

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“Derby games are the best games for us as footballers. You know how intense it can be, there’s a lot more pressure on the game and the atmosphere is a lot louder and being from Southampton as well it’s an even bigger moment for me.”

Ing’s record in derby games is not bad as he scored the winner for the Clarets against Blackburn in 2014 which was their first win in the fixture since 1979 and he is hoping for a similar experience on Tuesday.

Ings says the Saints will approach the game as they would any Premier League match and should ignore the extra pressure of the game itself and focus in what is important. “It’s important we focus on what’s important and that is winning the game at all costs.”

Ings is expected to get the nod ahead of Nathan Redmond up front to prevent a recurrence of the former Birmingham man’s recent injury problems, while Stuart Armstrong is expected to replace Sofiane Boufal in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.