Southampton boss Claude Puel was delighted with their 4-0 win at Sunderland.

It earned just a second league win in eight attempts, and will now hand his players four days off before beginning preparations for their Wembley showdown with Manchester United on February 26.

Puel said: "It was a fantastic game and good, of course, with all those games lost before, it was very important to react and to give a good answer. I hope it's the first game of a good cycle of course.

"It was important to win this game, a fantastic performance. Now we will take four days off with the family because we deserve this with all these games. It's a good thing to do it after the win and then we can prepare for the next game, a little game.

"This game, we know, is a fantastic, exciting game. We are not favourites, of course, but we know that in football, all is possible - we saw this against Liverpool.

"To win with this result, four goals and with a clean sheet, it's very good for the confidence and good preparation also for this game."

Asked about Gabbiadini's start to his career in England, which now amounts to three goals in two games, Puel added: "It's a good start, a very good start, of course. He is a technical player. You can find him between the lines because he has quality, good control, good passing."