#PLStories- James Ward-Prowse reveals difficulty in playing before empty stands #SAINTSFC

JAMES Ward-Prowse admitted he found behind-closed-doors games “difficult to get used to with the lack of atmosphere” as Saints prepare for a first return to empty stadia this campaign. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side travel to Swansea City in the FA Cup third round tomorrow (5.30pm) and, under Welsh Government guidelines, no tickets are being sold for the Premier League versus Championship clash. Football fans and players alike rejoiced a mass return to the terraces when Brentford packed out their stadium and hosted Arsenal on a Friday night back in August. However, swift and more extreme action taken on the spread of coronavirus by Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has meant Welsh sides will again play their games behind closed doors. James Ward-Prowse has scored in each of his last two away matches (Pic: PA) And asked if it will be disappointing to again step out onto the pitch to relative silence, the Saints captain told the Daily Echo: “Yeah, maybe. “I think that was the one thing that was difficult to get used to at the start was the lack of atmosphere.” He continued: “But once you’re in the game and in the moment you soon forget about it and have to concentrate on your job so we will see, it’s an ever changing time and at the minute we don’t know.” Russell Martin’s second division outfit have not played a competitive fixture for almost a month due to COVID postponements. Swansea manager Russell Martin (Pic: PA) The last time they ran out was a 4-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on December 11 – a result that made it three successive defeats for the south Wales side. Martin has admitted since that he will have to manage his squad accordingly for the FA Cup match, with most having been decimated by positive tests or isolations that will have struck their fitness levels. Meanwhile, Saints also saw disruption with winnable St Mary’s fixtures against Brentford and Newcastle both postponed due to cases in the opposition camp. “The situation with COVID is very difficult,” Ward-Prowse added. “It’s changing all the time, day-to-day. Saints will be without defender Kyle Walker-Peters following a positive COVID test (Pic: Stuart Martin) “We don’t know what restrictions are going to be in place or what’s coming next. “All we can do is control what we know we can control and that’s adhering to the protocols and making sure that everybody is safe within our bubble, and to ensure that we have as many fit players ready and available to play. “Fans or no fans, we are used to it both ways.”