Russell Martin desires to see his Southampton aspect replicate their performances towards the Premier League’s largest golf equipment after they face opponents nearer to them within the desk.
Following their return from the worldwide break, the Saints face Everton and Wolves, however begin by welcoming Leicester Metropolis to St. Mary’s this Saturday.
Having watched his workforce go toe-to-toe with Arsenal of their final encounter, Martin is concentrating on the identical strategy within the upcoming video games that he’s labelled “completely very important”.
“We’ve had Newcastle away; Manchester United at residence, the place for half an hour we’ve been excellent; and right here,” Martin stated.
“Now we’ve to switch that into the video games which might be going to essentially outline our season, and we’ve three or 4 of these arising within the subsequent block of video games which might be going to be completely very important.
“The league is so tight and goes to be so tight for thus lengthy, however at the moment I noticed a lot in a number of the blokes and the workforce, the way in which it felt, to make me really feel actually enthusiastic about what’s to return.”
In SO on Saturday pic.twitter.com/SZpi8476Ta
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 16, 2024
Leicester, in the meantime, earned their first win since their return to the Premier League with a 1-0 overcome Bournemouth final day trip.
Facundo Buonanotte’s solely aim sealed the victory, notching his fourth aim involvement in six Premier League appearances this season – already his joint-most throughout a single marketing campaign within the competitors (additionally 4 in 2023-24)
The Foxes additionally stored a clear sheet at residence within the Premier League for the primary time since October 2022, although head coach Steve Cooper insisted it was only a small step in the correct course.
“Everyone gave every thing within the sport,” Cooper stated. “They provide every thing each single day in coaching. After all, within the first quarter of video games there’s issues we may have performed higher, however some issues have actually gone towards us as nicely.
“To get that gray cloud away from us of getting that win, we’ve actually bought to assume now about getting some extra optimistic outcomes like this. It’s sensible and also you’ve bought to take pleasure in it, as a result of it’s so arduous to win video games within the Premier League, nevertheless it’s one win.
“From now, there gained’t be a day that goes by with out me eager about how we beat Southampton. Clearly, we’ll replicate, however all with the concept of how we will enhance to attempt to go back-to-back once we return after the worldwide break.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Southampton – Cameron Archer
Archer opened his Premier League account in Southampton’s defeat to Arsenal forward of the worldwide break, and he shall be hoping to proceed his scoring streak on Saturday.
This would be the 22-year-old’s first senior outing towards Leicester, having performed two video games towards them with Aston Villa’s Below-18’s, successful as soon as and dropping the opposite.
Leicester – Jamie Vardy
Vardy has been concerned in 12 objectives towards Southampton in his English league profession (eight objectives, 4 assists) – towards no aspect has he had a hand in additional.
Six of those eight objectives have come at St Mary’s Stadium, together with a hat-trick in October 2019, whereas he has additionally scored two objectives from 5 pictures within the Premier League this time period – no participant to have had no less than 5 makes an attempt has a greater conversion price than the veteran Foxes striker (40%).
Vibes stage pic.twitter.com/FmQHKGkgqk
— Leicester Metropolis (@LCFC) October 12, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: SOUTHAMPTON WIN
Whereas Southampton are favoured by Opta’s data-led simulations, they’re winless of their final 20 Premier League video games (D5 L15) – failure to win on this match would set a membership document for his or her outright longest winless run of their top-flight historical past.
Although the Saints have had the fifth-highest share of possession within the top-flight this season (57.4%), simply 3.2% of Southampton’s touches have come within the opposition field, the third-lowest ratio this time period.
Martin’s aspect have additionally conceded extra objectives following a excessive turnover than some other aspect within the Premier League this season (4).
And having performed the double over Leicester of their final Premier League marketing campaign collectively in 2022-23, Southampton misplaced each Championship conferences with the Foxes final time period by an mixture rating of 9-1.
Leicester are certainly one of simply three groups (together with Arsenal and Man Metropolis) to have scored in each Premier League sport to date this season. The Foxes earned their first win of the marketing campaign final day trip, final successful consecutively within the competitors in February 2023.
Nonetheless, they’re winless of their final three Premier League away video games towards Southampton (D2 L1) since a 9-0 win below Brendan Rodgers again in October 2019.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Southampton – 42.2%
Draw – 25.4%
Leicester – 32.5%
