 Welcome to this week's preview show where we are joined by club captain Simon Francis. Here's what's coming up this week We'll be looking back at last weekend's four-nil win over Luton in the FA Cup and then we'll be turning our attention to Sunday's game Here at Vitality Stadium against Watford, but first we're gonna start back at last weekend and that brilliant performance in the Cup Frano, it was a certainly needed and something that can build confidence from yeah, certainly that's the The mindset we had before the game we wanted to Put performance out there for the fans first and foremost obviously and for the players to Get a little bit of confidence back a bit of belief ahead of the Watford game Which is going to be crucial and it can be anything can be a cup game obviously to be a catalyst to kick start These next few games we've got coming up and I thought we we handled the game very professionally Obviously scoring four goals was great for us, but we dominated the game They did have their chances of course to get back into it They are VR playing its part again as per usual, but That was an entertaining game and one that we enjoyed and certainly we needed and how pleased were you and the rest of the lads for Dominic Solanke we thought he had one in the first half It was ruled out for VR as you say and then he comes up with a goal in the second half Yeah, we're delighted for him. Obviously. It's been a long time coming and for any shiker when they're not scoring goals I'm sure that plays on their mind, but He's been confident. He's been there in training He's been putting the ball in the back of the net and training and we knew it was was gonna come just a matter of time And for Callum as well obviously he hasn't scored in a number of games So hopefully that'll build massive confidence for them and all it takes is a tap in of course And we're hoping that come Watford they'll be firing again. You mentioned Callum there He came on with his first touch he scored It was it was great to see him back on the score sheet and Philip Billing as well two goals for him his first two for the club Yeah delight for Phil He's been excellent since he's come in Fitted and seamless leans that midfield and I know he didn't have much of a preseason at Huddersfield So fitness was was an issue for him, but I thought he came in he's looked stronger every single week Very laid-back on the ball slows the game down at times when we need it to very compose and he can attack as well And we saw that against Luton scored two goals Or be a deflection on the second one, but he's been excellent and again goals is what we need this team We've always looked like creating chances over the past month or two That's not necessarily dried up, but we haven't created as many as we would have liked to So scoring four at home is certainly a big boost ahead of this game And we can talk about the striker scoring goals at one end, but at the other end a clean sheet that as well can you know do wonders for confidence Yeah, again that that's certainly needed to go and win games Of course you need to keep clean sheets and that's something we have built our success on over the past few years I think injuries have played a part in that this season a disjointed back four at times Yeah, we're hoping we can keep more clean sheets, of course that will go a long way into winning games And when we're at our best I think we defend really well and we create chances and we score goals And that's the hopefully the Bournemouth we're going to see over the next few weeks and just a word on Alex Dobre He came on for his debut. How impressed have you been with him? You know on the pitch and in training? Yeah, really impressed. Obviously he's been training with us a while now And I've got to say I haven't seen many Young lads with his attitude and his desire to just want to be in the first team at all costs Sometimes he's very over enthusiast Enthusiastic and the manager has to slow him down a little bit in training because he's he's a hundred miles an hour at all times really but He's a maverick, you know, he's always got something up his sleeve that he can do He's got a lot of ability. He works really hard. Like I said, he's in early He's always working hard after training and he just wants it as much as I've ever seen a young player So I'm delighted for him that he's got a debut and hopefully many more appearances to come And just finally on Luton after that win. What's the mood like being around the training ground this week? It's been good it always is I mean Despite when you lose a game, of course, you're disappointed afterwards But if you let that play on your mind all week building up to another game It's only going to affect you in a negative way and the manager's been big on that Especially whilst we've been on the run we have of late, which hasn't been great You have to stay positive. It can be hard at times After the West Ham game was probably as down as I've ever felt over the past few years being in the Premier League That was a real real sickener for us. And I think the lads felt the same but the manager was Was positive in the build-up to training To the Luton game. We knew it was a big game for us Albeit a cup game against the team the bottom of the championship those can potentially be a banana skin But we handled it professionally and confidence is It's slowly coming back for us and I feel like it's gonna be a good few weeks Absolutely. Well next few weeks is where we're turning our attention to and it starts with Watford on Sunday Let's take a look at what Eddie Howe had to say in his pre-match press conference We're getting there on some A couple of problems with others the long-term Absentees won't really change and I think it's fair to say that without a doubt. This is a massive game for us Players know that we know that I'm sure the crowd know that how much we're gonna need them this weekend How much we're gonna need to create an atmosphere to show the importance of the match teams used to used to really fear coming here I think it was a tight stadium small ground obviously, but a really really good atmosphere and That's no no blame on the crowd because we haven't performed well enough here consistently this season only a couple of wins as you say it's not enough But we really need now between now and the end of the season that feeling That feeling back you go out with a good body language a good attitude a good mentality the crowd will back that and I'm desperate to see that this weekend and We have to show it. We have to show how much this game means to us. It's a time for everyone to unite together To be totally focused on achieving our goals and our aims Well, that was Eddie how speaking this morning in his pre match press conference Frano, it's a big game on Sunday on the TV and we're gonna need our supporters more than ever. Aren't we? Oh, yeah, of course And I think they've been excellent of late. Actually, especially against against Luton walking out I have to be honest. I didn't expect to see a full full stadium and it looked as as packed as ever And credit to the fans. They really got behind the lads and we're gonna need that every single game home and away The away support has been phenomenal again this season have to say and at home It's been great and I know when results aren't going our way It can be easy for the fans to not make as much noise But I have to say it makes a big difference on the pitch when you hear your home fans supporting you and getting behind you And of course, we'll need that Sunday more than ever But not just Sunday now to the end of the season the fans are a Massive for us at this football club. We know that we want to put performances in we want to get results for them And that'll start Sunday and a word on Watford. They've changed their manager with Nigel Pearson How impressive you've been with them since he's come in they're picking up results picking up points Yeah, they've certainly had that that new manager bounce if you like if you want to call it that or that that Effect of a new manager coming in the players are playing for him almost instantly really the results they've had of I've really turned their their season around from the bottom the lead to climbing up out of the relegation zone We're under no illusion. It's gonna be a tough game. We know they've got quality anyway Even even when they weren't winning games, they're always a dangerous team to play against we found that away from home on the counter They got good attacking players. They defend well. They're pretty solid and Nigel Pearson will have made a big difference for that as well defensively So it's gonna be a really tough game But we know what we can do to hurt them. We know where our strengths are and hopefully we'll We'll do that on Sunday and they're obviously gonna be without Christian Cavicelli He's suspended for the game how much of a boost will that be or is that something you look at or is that something that you know You focus on the team and and you know the team that you're gonna face Yeah, I mean we won't focus on that too much individually Obviously, it's a huge blow for them. He's an important player, but they have defenders that to come in and take his place So that won't be a massive loss to them. I don't think Maybe an area that we could target during this week's training But we'll be working on our strengths where we can hurt them that that's what we're all about now Trying to score goals create chances like we did against Luton using that confidence that belief and and hopefully we're causing problems And I just want to ask you about VAR. What what is it like for a player? We've seen it last week come into play. We've seen it across the Premier League season What's it like for for you as a player and and the squad to deal with is it something that you you know You talk about in training talk about off the pitch Well, it's a talking point nearly every single weekend in the Premier League is every weekend almost every game at the moment So yeah, we talk about it I mean I watch a lot of football and it always seems to be having an effect and the problem is that it's becoming more of a Negative effect than positive. I think of late During a game it's strange. I mean, obviously the the biggest one was the Chelsea one away from home It was just strange emotions I've never felt in a game because you're never normally waiting that long for a result to be for a decision to be made Gozo celebrated three times. We all saw that and I haven't it almost became a bit of a Comedy act in the end which is disappointing. It does take the emotion and the passion out of the game You know the result went our way in the end. So we're very happy with that. But yeah, I'm just I just think there's a lot of Cleaning up to do with it. It's still a little bit of a mess at the moment Yes, they're getting majority of the decisions right, but sometimes just taking too long It's too fiddly. I mean with the offsides things I do think things need to be changed with that, but it's something they'll assess I'm sure at the end of the season and hopefully make it better for next season And just finally it's a big few weeks coming up. We've got plenty of home games, you know Brighton, Aston Villa Watford on the weekend, the way to Norwich next weekend How important of a period is this after you know the the rush of Christmas to kick on in the new year? It is an important period I think any any block of games that you look at when you think these are games that we can hopefully take points from Are always going to import be important But we did think that over the Christmas period there was some games that we could go on attack and and hopefully winning that That didn't go our way Chelsea probably being the surprise result out of them. So We know that the consistency needs to be there for us We need to go on a run of course to get us out of the danger zone that we're in We're confident we can do that and this block of games should be good for us And we're hoping to get off to a good start on Sunday Well, I'm sure I speak on behalf of all the fans and wishing you the best of luck for the weekend and the few weeks ahead Now then if you are coming to Vitality Stadium on Sunday Make sure you wear your colors and cheer on the boys at Vitality Stadium If you're not coming make sure you listen to Chris temple on BBC Radio Solent and on a FCB TV. Bye for now