Colchester United manager Danny Cowley has called Southampton 'a Premier League team' after their 2-0 Carabao Cup win over the Us on Saturday. The victory marked a strong performance from the Saints, who will face their second-round opponents soon.
What happened?
Second-half goals from substitutes Cyle Larin and Romeo Akachukwu sealed the victory for Tonda Eckert's side. Speaking post-match, Cowley said: "We have a good relationship with Southampton. We’re very respectful. 'I think they’ve got Premier League players, they look a Premier League team to me. If you finish above them, you’re going to have a very good season for sure."
Why it matters for Colchester
The loss highlights the gap between Colchester and Premier League teams like Southampton. However, Cowley remains optimistic about his team's prospects. "They’ve been very good to us," Cowley continued. "They loaned us young Romeo and we didn’t have to pay any of his salary. 'They were unbelievably generous to us, so we are always very respectful of Southampton and any opponent we play against."
What comes next?
Colchester's next fixture is against Gillingham on 27th February 2027, where they currently sit 6th in the table. The team will look to bounce back from this loss and continue their push for a strong finish in the season.
Colchester's performance
The loss was a tough pill to swallow for the Colchester team, but Cowley remains proud of their performance. "We have a good relationship with Southampton," he said. "We’re very respectful. 'I think they’ve got Premier League players, they look a Premier League team to me. If you finish above them, you’re going to have a very good season for sure."
Colchester's future prospects
Despite the loss, Cowley remains optimistic about Colchester's future prospects. "They’ve been very good to us," he continued. "They loaned us young Romeo and we didn’t have to pay any of his salary. 'They were unbelievably generous to us, so we are always very respectful of Southampton and any opponent we play against."
Colchester's next steps
The team will look to regroup and refocus ahead of their next fixture against Gillingham. With a strong performance in the Carabao Cup, Colchester will look to build on this momentum and push for a strong finish in the season.
