Watford vs Southampton Predictions

• Southampton are unbeaten in their last 13 away games (all comps)
• Saints claimed four points from their two games with Watford last season
• The Hornets ended last season with a five game losing run

Saints looking to kick off in style

Southampton open the new season on minus four points as a result of last season’s unauthorised spying but they can eat into that handicap by beating Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

It remains to be seen how Saints will react to the imaginatively named ‘Spygate’ scandal but the early signs suggest it won’t have a big impact on morale. Southampton ran out 2-0 winners at Colchester in the EFL Cup last weekend and could have won by a bigger margin. Based on that performance, they look ready to mount a promotion push this season.

Watford also claimed a cup win last weekend as they downed Crawley 2-0. The Hornets probably won’t be among the challengers at the top of the table this season, however, and they ended last season with a whimper as they lost their final five games.

Southampton were strong travellers in the latter half of last season and they are now unbeaten in their last 13 trips across all competitions after their win at Colchester. Saints won seven of their final nine trips in the Championship last season, with two draws, and look well placed to claim maximum points at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets should be able to get on the scoresheet as Southampton conceded in five of their final six league games last term, including the play-offs, and Watford had a solid strike rate at home with 30 goals in 23 games. A 2-1 win for Southampton is the correct score prediction as Watford rarely concede heavily at home so should be able to keep this game fairly close even if they are unable to pick up any points.

Cyle Larin impressed on loan at Saints last season and has now moved to St Mary’s on a permanent basis. The Canada international opened his account for the season against Colchester and can get his first league goal of the new campaign at Watford.