Southampton vs Preston Predictions

• Southampton have won four of their last seven games
• Preston have posted just one win in four games
• Southampton’s Championship matches have averaged 3.29 goals per game

Saints target third successive home win

Successive home wins have kept Southampton in the hunt for promotion in the Championship this season and they can stay on the winning trail when they welcome Preston to St Mary’s.

It was scrappy but thanks to a 99th-minute goal from Flynn Downes, Saints edged Watford 3-2 on Saturday, having also won at home to Coventry on Tuesday night.

They are now targeting a third straight win at home and they should not encounter too many problems against Preston, who are in the mid-table positions.

Preston have little left to play for as the season draws to a close with the playoffs increasingly out of reach and they have won only one of their last four games, having lost to Norwich at home on Saturday.

St Mary’s set for high-scoring encounter

Southampton are the bet to win but goals could also be on the cards at St Mary’s.

Preston showed they are a team with goals in them in their 4-1 thrashing of Huddersfield last Tuesday and Saints have been pretty permeable at the back.

They have shipped in 30 of their 41 games in the Championship this season, while their league fixtures have averaged 3.29 goals per game.

With that in mind, a 2-1 win for hosts Southampton could be the way to go on Tuesday.