Derby County will host their first pre-season match on Saturday 21st July against Southampton at Pride Park Stadium.


Ahead of the contest, dcfc.co.uk has taken a look back at the Saints’ decorated history to provide an in-depth profile of the Rams’ pre-season opponents.

A Moment In History…

The Saints have claimed one major trophy in their history, the FA Cup in 1976 after a goal from Bobby Stokes secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.

It was a stunning feat for Southampton who were in the second division, having fallen victim to the new three-down relegation system in 1974.

The victory came at a time of rebuilding for the team under manager Lawrie McMenemy and two years later the Saints returned to the top flight where they remained for 27 years.


What Happened Last Season?...

The Saints survived a relegation battle to retain their status in the Premier League for the 2018/19 season, finishing 17th.

In the penultimate game of the season, Southampton were pitted against Swansea City as the pair fought to avoid the last remaining relegation spot. A 1-0 victory almost guaranteed them safety with the Swans needing a win over Stoke City by a large margin.

Their safety was confirmed on the final day of the season in a 1-0 loss against league title winners, Manchester City.


Who’s The Boss?...

Former Southampton forward, Mark Hughes remains in charge of the Saints after he guided them to survival in the final weeks of the 2017/18 season.

Mauricio Pellegrino was sacked with eight games remaining in 17th place when Hughes stepped in. After avoiding relegation, he was offered a three-year contract with the club.

Who To Look Out For?...

Nathan Redmond is highly rated by Hughes, who finally got his wish to work with the 25-year-old midfielder after his attempts to sign him at Stoke City two years ago failed.

Redmond fell to a peripheral figure for the Saints last season under Pellegrino after being one of the club’s most influential players the season before, earning him his first senior England call-up in 2017.

However, it has been a fresh start for the former Birmingham City and Norwich City man under the new boss. As the Saints battled against relegation, Redmond scored in a 1-1 draw against Everton in the third to last game, which proved to be a crucial point.

He is now shining again in pre-season, scoring twice in Southampton’s two pre-season games against FC Schalk and Jiangsu Suning.


Did You Know?...

Southampton are nicknamed the Saints due to their history as a church football team. They were founded in 1885 as St. Mary’s Church of England Young Men’s Association.