Daily Echo:

TENS OF THOUSANDS of fans will descend on London and Southampton today to roar on Saints during their first major cup final in more than a decade.

The crunch game against Manchester United at Wembley could see the club land their first piece of major silverware since 1976.

Football fans across Southampton have been gripped by the club’s fairy-tale journey in the EFL cup, and excitement will hit fever-pitch when they take on the Red Devils in the final at 4.30pm.

A convoy of up to 100 coaches will leave the city this morning for Wembley.

Extra trains have also been put on to take supporters to the game.

We wil have reporters on the trains and buses as well as in the stadium to bring live coverage of the day.

Our football writers will also bring expert analysis of the Saints biggest game since they lost the FA Cup final to Arsenal in 2003.

Pubs and bars in the city are expected to be packed to capacity by seas of red and white supporters, while three bus operators will help hundreds of fans across the city free of charge.

Chloe Moxom, team leader at the Bedford Arms, said she expects the pub to max out its 250 person capacity.

She said every member of staff is working on the day to cope with demand, adding: "Hopefully, the atmosphere will be really good.

“If Saints win, the celebrations will go long into the night, even though it is a Sunday and a school night. We are really looking forward to the day.”

Eugene McManus, of the Saints Pub in Millbrook, said while a lot of its regulars would be making the trip to Wembley, he still expects around 300 fans to turn out to watch the match unfold.

He added: "The atmosphere will be lively - let's hope we will have something to cheer about."

Saints fans will also get free bus travel around the city today if they wear theri teams colours on Ulilink, Bluestar and First Southampton buses.

Saints supporters were in dreamland when Claude Puel’s men booked their place in the cup final last month, beating Liverpool 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-final.

Shane Long’s 94th minute effort at Anfield secured their spot, sending the city in delirium.

Thousands of fans subsequently rushed to book travel and hotel stays in the capital – prompting South West Trains to add two additional trains in the morning and two evening trains on Sunday to support the volume of supporters.

City council deputy leader Jacqui Rayment said there is a "real buzz" in the city ahead of the match.

She added: "Everyone is excited and getting behind the team. It does not matter whether you are in the supermarket or petrol station – everyone is talking about it.

“Let’s hope for a great result and get behind the boys ahead of the final. COYR!”

City council leisure boss Satvir Kaur added: “Southampton is a really proud city and there is a lot that unifies us, including our amazing football club.

“The players have really done the city proud. There will be amazing celebrations in the city when, hopefully, Saints win.”

Sandeep Sesodia, chair of the Southampton Business Board at Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said the final will boost local trade as it has brought the business and wider community together.

He added: "This final makes Southampton a bigger destination for businesses and tourists, because there is now a story to tell. This can only benefit these businesses because it will increase their revenue.

"This is part of another success story in Southampton and we are wishing Saints the very best of luck."