Match Preview: Colchester United Face Southampton – Team News, Prediction and Lineups

Southampton begin their EFL Cup campaign on Saturday with a trip to the JobServe Community Stadium, where they take on League Two side Colchester United in the first round of the competition.

The Saints will be aiming to avoid a repeat of their early exit in the 2023/24 season, while Colchester are hoping to progress beyond the opening stage after suffering elimination at this hurdle in four of the last six campaigns.

Match Preview

Colchester head into another League Two season after securing a comfortable mid-table finish in 2025/26. Danny Cowley’s side ended the campaign in 12th place on 66 points, finishing well clear of the relegation places but some distance from the playoff positions.

Preparation for the new season has been demanding, with the U’s facing several higher-level opponents during pre-season. They opened with a goalless draw against Norwich City before narrowly losing to West Ham United. Comfortable wins over Heybridge Swifts and Harlow Town followed, while further defeats to Peterborough United, Charlton Athletic and Stevenage were separated by a draw against West Ham’s Under-21 team.

Their final warm-up fixture ended in a 1-0 defeat to Stevenage, leaving Cowley’s squad eager to make a stronger start when competitive action begins.

Colchester now face one of their toughest assignments in recent years as they welcome Southampton for the clubs’ first competitive meeting since 2011. The hosts will need a standout performance if they are to avoid another first-round cup exit after being knocked out by Oxford United at this stage last season.

Southampton, meanwhile, return to competitive football under difficult circumstances following the controversy that overshadowed the end of last season. The club’s promotion hopes were ended after they were removed from the Championship playoffs because of the widely publicised Spygate affair, which centred on a staff member observing Middlesbrough training before the semi-finals. The Saints later admitted to monitoring two additional clubs and received a four-point deduction for the upcoming league campaign.

Despite the setback, Southampton have retained head coach Tonda Eckert, although he is still awaiting the outcome of an FA misconduct charge that could result in a touchline suspension.

The club has strengthened the squad during the transfer window by signing goalkeeper George Long and winger Lewis Dobbin, while Daniel Peretz and Cyle Larin have both completed permanent moves after successful loan spells.

Pre-season results have been encouraging, with Southampton winning three of their four friendly matches, including a 2-1 success over German side Preussen Münster in their final outing.

Having reached the semi-finals of the competition in 2022/23 and the quarter-finals in 2024/25, Southampton will be determined to make another deep run and avoid an upset against lower-league opposition.

Team News

Colchester could be without first-choice goalkeeper Tom Smith, who is still recovering after undergoing surgery for a burst appendix earlier in the summer.

If Smith is unavailable, recent Hull City loanee Thimothee Lo-Tutala is expected to make his competitive debut. Summer arrivals Sean Raggett, Leon Chiwome and Bradley Ihionvien are also in contention to feature from the start.

Southampton will make late fitness checks on Finn Azaz and Caspar Jander after both dealt with recent injury concerns.

Tom Fellows has missed the club’s last two friendlies because of an adductor problem. Although he is expected to be fit enough to return, Eckert may choose not to risk him in the starting lineup.

Canada international Cyle Larin is also available again after returning from an extended break following his World Cup involvement and could feature as a substitute.

Predicted Lineups

Colchester United: Lo-Tutala; Hunt, Raggett, Tucker, Iandolo; Digby, Oni; Anderson, Payne, Chiwome; Ihionvien.

Southampton: Peretz; Bree, Stephens, Harwood-Bellis, Welington; Bragg, Downes; Matsuki, Scienza, Brereton Diaz; Dobbin.

Prediction

Southampton enter the contest with greater experience, stronger squad depth and solid pre-season momentum. Although Colchester should provide a competitive challenge on home soil, the Championship side are expected to have enough quality to secure a place in the next round.

Predicted score: Colchester United 1-3 Southampton.