Southampton vs Aston Villa Predictions

• Southampton are on a three-game winning streak in all competitions
• Aston Villa have lost six of their last ten away games in the Premier League
• Three of Southampton’s last five games have been settled by 2-1 scorelines

Southampton turning a corner under Jones

Southampton are propping up the Premier League table but have shown significant signs of improvement recently and are worth backing in the draw no bet market against Aston Villa.

It is fair to say Nathan Jones has not been the most popular man in Southampton since taking charge of the club earlier in the season but – thanks to a bit of magic from James Ward-Prowse – he oversaw his first league win as Saints boss away to Everton last time out.

That 2-1 victory at Goodison Park followed a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup and a stunning 2-0 home victory over Manchester City in the EFL Cup earlier this month.

Improving home form is key for Saints

With a three-game winning sequence now behind them, the Saints should be growing in confidence and the push for survival has begun.

Key to getting out of the relegation zone will be improving their poor home record – they have managed only one home league win all season – but that cup triumph over Manchester City showed they can impress in front of their fans.

Jones claimed he was impressed by discussions with the board this week and, while it remains to be seen what business Southampton will do in the remainder of the January transfer window, there is quality in the side in the likes of Ward-Prowse, Che Adams and Sekou Mara.

Villa have lacked consistency this campaign

Aston Villa are another club in the early days of a manager’s tenure with Unai Emery having taken charge at the start of November.

Emery has so far made a pretty positive start to life as Villa boss, leading the club to wins over Manchester United, Brighton, Tottenham and Leeds.

But consistency has been a problem for this team all season and they have also dropped points against out-of-form Liverpool and Wolves teams since Boxing Day and they have lost five of their nine road league games in 2022-23. 

We predict a 2-1 triumph for hosts Southampton.

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