Southampton vs Brentford Predictions

• Brentford have just one defeat in their last six away, winning twice.
• Southampton have failed to score in three of their last four league games.
• Saints have five defeats in their last eight across all competitions.

Bees test for struggling Saints

Southampton prop up the Premier League table but they will feel they can get a result against Brentford on Wednesday after picking up four points from their last two games.

The Bees’ chances of gate crashing the European places were dealt a blow at the weekend as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Everton, but a win at St Mary’s would see them move to within three points of fifth placed Newcastle.

Lack of goals an issue for Saints

Southampton played out a 0-0 draw at Manchester United over the weekend in what would normally be considered a positive result, but has to be viewed as an opportunity missed when you consider they were playing against 10-men for the majority of that encounter.

Saints have scored just four goals in their last six league games, a run that started with a 3-0 defeat to Wednesday’s opponents in the reverse fixture, and they are the joint lowest scorers in the league with just 20 goals in 26 games.

Brentford were perhaps unlucky not to get at least a point at Everton as they dominated possession and had an xG of 2.23 for that game, and that was just the second time they have failed to score in their last 13 Premier League games.

The difference in quality in front of goal may well decide this game despite Southampton’s improved results over the last couple of weeks. Brentford have only won twice on the road in the league this season and that is a concern, but I still feel they can edge this encounter so an away win is the main bet.

Goals could be in short supply

Ruben Selles has tightened up Southampton’s defence and they have three clean sheets in four league games since he took charge. As such, one goal may be enough to edge this game and as Brentford score on average just 1.1 goals-per-game in their travels in the Premier League a 1-0 win for the visitors stands out as a correct score bet.

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