Team News
Blues will make a number of changes as players return that were rested against Braga. Keith Fahey and Nikola Zigic are still out.
Southampton will check on defenders Frazer Richardson (Calf) and Dan Harding (Knee).
Last Meeting
The two sides last met in March 2009 where Blues won 1-0 thanks to a Keith Fahey goal. It was a dull game, most games that season were dull. The last meeting at St Marys was a Carling Cup tie in August 2008 that Blues lost 2-0 despite having won having won there 2-1 ten days earlier. In the league Blues have won the last four games against Saints.
Recent Form
Last week’s win over Millwall propelled Blues up to 12th in the league but was the first win in three games. They have still not won an away game since February.
Southampton are 2nd after having won five and lost one of their opening games. That loss was in their last away fixture at Leicester. They have a 100% record at home in league and cup games this season.
Outlook
So after the disappointment of the Europa Cup defeat to Braga attention turns back to the league. As will be the case for all our European games the following game will be away from home. It’s a fix I tell you. Could you imagine the fuss Fergie or Wenger would make if that happened to them. This game will be extra tough as we have to face one of the league’s form sides who like Brighton have carried on from where they finished last year. Chris Hughton clearly had this game in mind when he sent out his team on Thursday night.
Despite the loss I thought we didn’t play that badly against Braga and probably deserved a point. We were just taught a lesson in how to play European football and to take your chances. Against Millwall on Sunday Blues were the victors also through better finishing as it was a pretty even game overall. Southampton will not be as goal shy and have already scored fifteen in six games this season. Nigel Adkins is doing an excellent job there. Richie Lambert and Adam Lallana are dangerous players so we’ll need our first choice defence back. That probably means Liam Ridgewell playing left back which will be a little harsh on David Murphy who has played well recently and adds a lot more going forward. I’d argue that he is probably the best crosser in the squad. The likes of Burke, Gomis and Beausejour should return in midfield with Spector and N’Daw giving way. This should also be the first full game that we see Wood and King playing together which must be the first choice partnership while Chris Wood is still with us. Adam Rooney is an effective battering ram but not a top striker while Nikola Zigic will always be one game away from returning.
Away games following our European matches will always be hard and this will be our toughest test of the season so far. I would consider a draw to be a pretty good result but I’ve learnt not to fancy us away much so I am not too optimistic. Should be a good game though.
My prediction Southampton 2 Blues 2.
C’mon you Blue Boys
@Aylesbury_Blue
Great preview mate. I reckon 2-2 is a good shout. As for away games conspiracy theory, I think it’s better that way. We’re less likely to win matches straight after European match, so it’s better to have the away matches then, as there’d be a lot of peeved season ticket holders tired of watching exhausted players hobbling about 🙂
As for Zigic, yeah, he’s been ‘nearly there’ since March 2010.
🙁
2-2 is an optimistic shout. I am afraid I am more in the 3-1 camp.The legs of Ridgewell and Carr will be aching after 60 mins and I am still not sure whether those two have come to terms with being the last remnants of the cup winning team. Myhill, bless him, is improving but is still costing us a goal every other game in my opinion. Lot of work to do at the back but going forward we look great – how things have changed eh?!
Wood and King should be a pretty devastating partnership upfront, and with Beausejour feeding them, there should be plentiful goals. we’re still poor at the back, so whilst we’re working on fixing that, we just need to score as many goals as we can- more than Southampton do anyway. Obviously this will be a very hard game, but i don’t see why we can’t win it, i really think we’ve got superior quality in our team, even with all last seasons stars gone. lets get some serious goals!