By John May

Rodrigues (right) says Southampton can enjoy another big day

Having masterminded one of the great FA Cup final upsets, Peter Rodrigues is convinced his old Southampton team can spring another.

Rodrigues was the veteran, evergreen captain of Saints' 1976 FA Cup-winning team that ripped up the form book with their 1-0 win over Manchester United.

Just as then, Saints go into the final against Arsenal as underdogs.

Manager Lawrie McMenemy produced a master plan which saw his collection of old salts such as Rodrigues, Jim McCalliog, Peter Osgood and Mike Channon, upset a United side, brimming with the vibrant talent of Gordon Hill, Steve Coppell, Stuart Pearson, Lou Macari and the Greenhoff brothers.

Rodrigues believes the key to Southampton's chances lie in a similar plan, which does not compromise Saints' own attributes.

The former Saints skipper said: "Saints have to play their way.

I think it's more than a case of simply stopping Thierry Henry Peter Rodrigues

"Gordon Strachan knows what they're good at and what they can do.

"There will be a plan to curb certain players in the Arsenal side in the same way in our case, myself and David Peach had to contain Gordon Hill and Steve Coppell."

McMenemy's defensive ploy worked to perfection as the veteran Rodrigues played his full part in curbing Coppell.

Rodrigues, though, feels Southampton's chances hinge more than on stopping individuals.

Danger man Hill was kept quiet by Rodrigues

"I think it's more than a case of simply stopping Thierry Henry," says Rodrigues.

"They have to plan to stop Arsenal players doing certain things. After that, they have to look at their own strengths."

Back in 1976, a frustrated United fell to the classic sucker punch as the sadly departed Bobby Stokes scored the most famous goal in Saints' history.

It presented Rodrigues, who now lives in Spain, with the chance to go down in south coast history.

"The greatest feeling I had was taking the Cup from the Queen, turning half a metre and raising 33,000 Southampton voices

"To turn and show the Cup to your supporters was the greatest moment of my life."

I can remember the whole day very well as though it was yesterday Peter Rodrigues

If Rodrigues has one piece of personal advice to Southampton players, it is to take it all in.

"In 1969 I was a young lad with Leicester City and everything went above my head," he added.

"When I went back at the age of 33 with Saints I felt I would take everything in, starting from the whole week before.

"Certainly I can remember the whole day very well as though it was yesterday.

"That's partly because everyone is always takling to me about it.

"In many ways, it will be nice for Saints to win the Cup again to give the fans something else to focus on."