Southampton vs Sunderland Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Southampton’s perennial exodus of their star players happened again this summer as Sadio Mane, Victor Wanyama, and Graziano Pelle all left the club along with popular and talented manager Ronald Koeman. However, this happens every summer so it would be foolish to write them off as strugglers again.

They haven’t started the season fantastically well though. They missed a catalogue of late chances at home to Watford and had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the end, despite the visitors having to play the final 15 minutes with ten men. Nathan Redmond’s debut goal will have boosted his confidence though.

They followed this with a trip to Manchester United, and as expected they found themselves dominated for large periods of the game. In the end Southampton slumped away with a deserved 2-0 defeat to their names, but now they have a real chance of getting their first win on the board.

Sunderland yet again narrowly escaped relegation last season as Sam Allardyce came in and rescued the club at the expense of arch rivals Newcastle, much to the Black Cats’ fans’ delight. But Big Sam’s remarkable escape attracted the attention of the FA, who duly appointed him as Roy Hodgson’s successor as England manager. David Moyes came in hoping to salvage his name after two recent unsuccessful management spells, but it isn’t going well for him so far.

Granted, Sunderland don’t look the catastrophe that we’re used to seeing from them in the early stages of the season, and they actually performed pretty well away to Manchester City in their opener. It was only thanks to a late Paddy McNair debut own goal that they lost the clash, but a loss is a loss in the end.

Newcastle may have been relegated, but that hasn’t left Sunderland with no derbies to contest. Middlesbrough’s promotion set up a marginally less hateful north east derby last weekend. The newly promoted club netted two first half goals through Christian Stuani to give themselves a commanding lead at the Stadium of Light. Both were assisted by Alvaro Negredo as well, continuing his promising start to life at the Riverside. Goalscoring defender Patrick van Aanholt did manage to claw a goal back with 20 minutes remaining, but Sunderland just couldn’t find the equaliser and remain devoid of points.

Southampton shouldn’t have many issues getting past Sunderland’s defence at home this weekend, but whether they can keep a clean sheet is another matter. Southampton have conceded in each of their last seven home matches in the Premier League and in each of their last 12 home and away. Sunderland have managed goals in both of their games this season and in 14 of their last 15 trips away in the Premier League.

But Southampton have won eight of their last 11 Premier League home games, and they have more than enough quality to take all three points from Sunderland. I don’t expect them to keep a clean sheet in the process though, and huge odds of 3/1 for Southampton to Win and Both Teams to Score look incredibly good value. I’m backing that along with a 2-1 correct score prediction at 17/2.