Premier League preview and odds: Sunderland vs Southampton

Published on: 10/02/2017

Premier League preview and odds: Sunderland vs Southampton

February 11 , 2017 15:00pm - Stadium of Light

Premier League

Rock-bottom Sunderland will look to extend their unbeaten run to three games when they play host to stumbling Southampton side at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Sunderland just two points from safety

Sunderland may be bottom of the Premier League table but they have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks. In the last five matches they have drawn at home to Liverpool (2-2) and Tottenham Hotspur (0-0) and won away to Crystal Palace (0-4). On home soil, the Black Cats have lost just two of their last seven matches.

On a negative note, David Moyes` men have conceded the first goal in 71% of their matches this term, a statistic that the former Manchester United boss will be keen to rectify.

Meanwhile, this will be Southampton`s last game before they contest the English League Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley on February 26. While the Saints have excelled in that competition, they seem to have taken their eye off the ball in the Premier League. A run of seven games featuring six defeats and just a single win has seen them drop to 13th place in the table with a total of 27 points.

Claude Puel`s men lost their last three away games, scoring just a single goal in the process. While the threat of relegation remains distant, a continuation of their current form could see the pressure mount on the South Coast team.

Team news

Sunderland have been plagued by injury all season and their problems still persist with Jack Rodwell (hamstring strain), John OShea (hamstring strain), Adnan Januzaj (hip), Victor Anichebe (knee), Jordan Pickford (anterior cruciate ligament sprain), Jan Kirchhoff (cartilage), Duncan Watmore (ACL), Paddy McNair (knee) and Lee Cattermole (hip) all out of action, while Papiss Djilobodji is suspended.

Meanwhile, Sofiane Boufal (knee), Virgil van Dijk (ankle), Charlie Austin (dislocated shoulder), Alex McCarthy (hamstring strain), Matt Targett (hamstring strain) and Jeremy Pied (knee) will all be missing for the visitors, while Jake Hesketh (ankle) is a doubt.

Recent form (League)

Sunderland: WDLLD

Southampton: LLWLL

Betting odds and tips

With the away side in such poor form in the league and Sunderland displaying a new-found confidence, the Sunderland/Draw Double Chance looks like a decent bet.

You can back the Sunderland/Draw Double Chance at 3/4 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 10/02/2017

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (10/02/2017 16:10:11) but are subject to change.