DERBY County boss Frank Lampard views tomorrow’s FA Cup third round replay against Saints as a ‘reaction’ game.
The Rams were beaten 2-0 by Leeds last Friday, which has left them hanging on to the final play-off spot.
Lampard is keen for his side to get back to winning ways and is urging his team to rise to the challenge against Premier League opposition.
The former England international said: “It’s a good ‘reaction’ game for us, to show that what you saw on Friday night was not what we’ve seen this season.
Derby celebrate their goal against Saints in the original FA Cup fixutre
“It’s important for us. We love the FA Cup, and the fans do, too.
“It’s another opportunity for the players to show what they can do against a good Premier League team.”
Derby have been wrapped up in a spy storm after Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa admitted he sent someone to secretly watch them train ahead of their match last week.
It’s been brought up by former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas that he was often sent by Jose Mourinho to go incognito and scout the opposition’s training methods.
However, Lampard hit back at that suggestion and revealed he “does not believe” spying tactics were employed during his time at Chelsea.
"There's been talk about Chelsea used to do this years ago. I certainly wasn't aware of it and I don't believe it at all. Certainly not in the form that it happened this time,” continued Lampard.
Former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas [right] and Frank Lampard [left]
"Amongst managers, and I haven't canvassed opinion, but going on my time at Chelsea and my year at Manchester City and seeing how protective top managers are over their work, I would expect them to be of the same thinking as myself.
"Pundits or ex-players who say, 'well it always used to happen 20 years ago', well it's not 20 years ago, it's the modern day."
All that said, Lampard wants to move on from the incident.
"I don't think offering my opinion now on what should happen is the right thing to do. I think I made my feelings quite clear after the Leeds game.
"It's up to how much the FA and EFL want to stop what happened happening again, or whether they don't.
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa
"This will be the last time I speak about it. I certainly don't want to be the person who keeps speaking about an issue when it's gone.
"It's for the authorities to deal with and now we must focus on what we are doing, which is preparing for the Southampton game."
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