Barnsley manager David Flitcroft admits his team selection for their Capital One Cup clash against Saints tonight might be decided by a “headcount.”

Flitcroft’s side are currently bottom of the Championship without a league victory all season following their 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Blackburn.

The Tykes had little chance after seeing Jean-Yves Mvoto sent off early on, a decision which the club are appealing.

They are waiting on the verdict to see whether Mvoto will be available to face Saints tonight with other defensive options such as Lewin Nyatanga and former St Mary’s youngster Martin Cranie out injured.

Flitcroft said: “To be honest it will be a headcount, it really will, then we will put that into a shape and put that into perspective.

“I want to dissect this game with the players because I think that’s important to go through each goal, we will watch Southampton and go through what we are going to do against Southampton.”

He added: “We will find out where Lewin’s at and Cranie, but the numbers are probably where we are at.

“We will reboot and it’s possibly good we have Southampton coming up because we can’t turn into victims.

“We’re a group of players who are honest with each other, we have been honest with the players and we are very disappointed with the goals we conceded but happy with the start we made to that football game.

“A referee has killed the performance.”

The Mvoto decision was certainly a controversial one.

After the game Flitcroft reported that he spoke to Jordan Rhodes, the foul on whom led to the Barnsley defender’s dismissal, and that the striker had given him enough reason to suggest the decision was definitely wrong.

“I think we’ve got to (appeal) because he’s got it wrong,” said Flitcroft.

“It’s going to be difficult because it was a catastrophe of a day after that.

“Whether the referee has seen it, and he hasn’t got the hindsight of speaking to Jordan Rhodes which I will certainly put in the evidence, because it was a bad touch from Jordan, he realised he had it and didn’t have the pace to get away from Jean-Yves and it’s a decision he’s not had to make.

“He’s made it straight away and I like referees who wait on a decision and really get it right but he’s blown straight away as soon as Jordan simulated a dive.

“I think I’ve got to (appeal) knowing what I know now after speaking to Jordan.”

Flitcroft does have the option of handing a first start to striker Marcus Pedersen who has recently joined the Oakwell side on loan.

“Marcus I have been tracking for a few weeks as soon I was alerted we could get him,” enthused Flitcroft.

“He’s a player that’s going to do well for this football club and a player that’s going to score goals.”