RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted Wednesday’s FA Cup third round replay with Derby is the last thing his Saints side need.

Fresh off a 2-1 win against Leicester on Saturday, where the second half was played with ten-men, they now have to ready themselves for Wednesday evening before playing Everton at the weekend.

Hasenhuttl said: “I think both teams in the moment are in a very important period in the season. For both teams, it’s not the best thing.

Daily Echo:

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl

“The best thing for us is that we have three suspended players at the moment and all three can’t play on Wednesday, but they can play on Saturday.

“That’s the positive and the most perfect thing from the FA Cup game.

“I cannot say that I am more focused on Saturday than I am on Wednesday because I know how important the FA Cup is for the fans and for the players.”

Having led 2-0 in the original fixture against Derby, Saints proceeded to throw away the lead in a frantic three-minute spell during the second half.

The Rams' Jack Marriott and Tom Lawrence cancelled out Nathan Remond's double, which included a delightful strike from long range.

Daily Echo:

Nathan Redmond celebrates one of his goals against Derby

Since then, Derby were beaten by Leeds and only have a two-point cushion in the Championship play-off spots.

Because of this, it's likely they will opt to make a number of changes to their side, so that they can rest a number of key players.

Ahead of Wednesday's game, Hasenhuttl revealed it will be the first time he has experienced a replay in his managerial career.

He added: “We had a great chance to go straight through in the first game, but we didn’t because we gave it away in the second half.

“Now we have to do it once again and it’s a new situation for me because I’ve never had a replay in my career.

“We want to win this game and we want to win both games.

“The first is on Wednesday and our focus is on this game.”