Gallen relishing cup clash with Southampton
Portsmouth assistant boss Joe Gallen is relishing the prospect of a Carabao Cup showdown with rivals Southampton.
League One Pompey were drawn at home to the Saints in round three after winning 2-0 at QPR.
Gallen declared: “It’s great. I really love derby games and I think it’s brilliant that we’re now going to play Southampton.”
Championship side Rangers dominated for large spells but John Marquis’ 76th-minute penalty put Pompey ahead and Marcus Harness sealed their win five minutes later.
And the Acton-born Gallen, a former QPR coach and a lifelong fan of the club, felt the visitors deserved their win.
“We felt if we could see the opening 20 minutes out we could then get our football going and create some chances,” he said.
“I think in the second half we did do that and pushed QPR back quite a bit.
“The second half was even and at that stage it’s first goal wins really. You start to think that whoever gets the first goal is probably going to win.
“Luckily for us we got the penalty and it’s gone our way. Then after the first goal you could see the confidence.
“Overall, do I think we deserved it? Yes. I think we edged it.”
