MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 14:35:49| >> :120:7589:7589:
[monks data]
Southampton logo
Premier League
Mar 21, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Burnley logo

2-0

Long (37'), Shackell (58' og.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Southampton vs. Burnley

Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between Southampton and Burnley at St Mary's Stadium as the Clarets aim to build on their scalp of Manchester City.

Burnley will be hoping to aid their relegation fight with another top-six scalp when they visit Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Clarets gave their survival hopes an unexpected boost while denting Manchester City's title tilt with a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor last weekend.

George Boyd's sumptuous left-footed volley found a way past Joe Hart, no easy feat this week, to secure Sean Dyche's side their first win in eight matches.

The three points lifted Burnley to within one of safety and they now appear the most likely of the promoted teams to retain their top-flight status this season.

Southampton ensured that City's defeat did not prove doubly costly as they held league leaders Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday lunchtime.

Although the Saints have been overtaken by in-form heavyweights Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks, they remain in the top-four mix.

Sixth in the table and six points off the final Champions League place they may be, but Ronald Koeman's side finish what would regardless be an excellent season with six games out of nine against bottom-half opposition.

The Dutchman could name an unchanged team, persisting with Shane Long up front rather than Graziano Pelle, who is without a league goal in 2015, after the Irishman's industrious performance upon his recall.

Filip Djuricic and James Ward-Prowse are both pushing for starts in the positions behind Long, but the pace of Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic's streakily-converted penalty against the Blues should see them retained.

Eljero Elia, Emmanuel Mayuka and Jay Rodriguez, who scored 41 goals in 129 games for the Clarets before leaving for St Mary's Stadium in 2012, are all out through injury.

Burnley's new goalscoring hero Danny Ings missed out on a place in the England squad on Thursday, but strike partner Sam Vokes was recalled by Wales after making his first league start of the campaign versus City.

Last season's prolific pairing are expected to continue in attack for the visitors, with Ashley Barnes being accommodated on the left flank. Michael Duff's clean sheet will see him keep Michael Keane on the bench.

Both Matt Taylor, who has been out since September with an Achilles problem, and new signing Fredrik Ulvestad completed 90 minutes for the club's development side in midweek and may soon be in first-team contention.

Burnley have not won any of their last eight away games, but did win December's reverse fixture 1-0.

Southampton:

Form in Premier League: WDLLWD

Possible starting lineup: Forster; Clyne, Alderweireld, Fonte, Bertrand; Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Davis; Mane, Tadic, Long

Burnley:

Form in Premier League: DLDLLW

Possible starting lineup: Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee; Boyd, Arfield, Jones, Barnes; Vokes, Ings

Sports Mole says: 1-1


ID:212235: cacheID:212235:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7045:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Harry Redknapp Manager of Queens Park Rangers ahead of the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi Final second leg match between Queens Park Rangers and Wigan Athletic at Loftus Road on May 12, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Burnley vs. QPR
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!