Southampton To Push For Europe With Stoke Win

Southampton are still knocking on the door of the European places though will have to see off Stoke away from home should they successfully maintain their challenge for either Europa League or Champions League admittance. The Hampshire club sit in sixth position in the league and will usurp FA Cup semi-finalists Liverpool with a victory in the Midlands tomorrow. Failure to pick up all three points could see them superseded by Tottenham who take to the pitch on Sunday, they playing Newcastle away from home.

Their hosts for tomorrow`s match-up are currently looking to reaffirm their position in the top half of the Premier League. The Potters lie in 10th but could jump into ninth with a home victory over the Saints. Defeat would see them liable to be usurped by Crystal Palace, something that would severely harm their chances of finishing in the top half come the end of the season.

The two sides have met twice already this season, first of all in the reverse Premier League clash at St Marys before they met again a week later in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Only one goal was grabbed as Southampton hosted Stoke in the Premier League, Sadio Mane`s goal making sure that the home side took all three points from the encounter. bet365 and a number of other bookmakers have 6/1 on the Saints recording another 1-0 victory over Mark Hughes` men tomorrow. Both betfred and Totesport have 8/1 on Mane scoring the first goal.

Ronald Koeman`s men managed to double their seasonal head-to-head record over Stoke in the FA Cup just a week later. Five goals were scored as the Saints ran out the 3-2 victors away from home.

Graziano Pelle opened the scoring with the clash just six minutes young, the match remaining at 1-0 to the European hopefuls before Shane Long doubled their advantage on the half an hour marker.

Things looked miserable for the Britannia Stadium outfit at half time though they were the more confident-looking side upon their return from the dressing room. Steven N`Zonzi succeeded in halving the deficit just five minutes after the restart before the home supporters though they had grabbed a late equaliser through Mame Biram Diouf in the 82nd minute. It was not to be, however, as Pelle completed his brace in the dying embers of the game.

Most bookmakers are offering 40/1 on a 3-2 Saints win tomorrow with Betbright`s 15/1 being the best price on exactly five goals being scored. Whilst Pelle is up for grabs at 14/1 (unibet) to score two or more goals, he can be backed at 6/1 (betfred, Betvictor, Coral, Totesport) to break the deadlock.

Indeed it is Southampton who are the favourites to continue their fantastic run of form against the Potters. Most establishments have 11/8 on the sixth placed side grabbing the three points by any means. Elsewhere, boylesports are offering 13/5 on a home win for the hosts with the best price on a draw being offered by numerous bookmakers at 23/10.

Mark Hughes` home side have not won in any of their last four matches, their 1-1 draw with West Ham last time out ending a run of three defeats. At home the record of the Britannia Stadium club is much better, securing nine points from a maximum of 15.

Stoke have scored eight in their last five at home and can be backed at 11/4 with Coral to score over 1.5 goals. Southampton have been able to pick up 10 points from their last five games but are without a win in three on the road. Despite this, they did not concede more than one goal in any of these three games with Stoke on offer at 17/10 (Betvictor) to score exactly one.

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17/04/2015     © Frixo 2024