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Saints At Huddersfield Town The Preview

Can Saints poop the Town Terriers promotion party perfect start to the season and condemn them to their first defeat of the season.

Mauricio Pellegrino will look to put the ebacle against Wolves behind him and continue to good work done in the opening two games, which have by Saints standards at the start of a season been outstanding.

One positive not is the fact that against Wolves only Oriol Romeu played in the same role as he has played in the first two games with all other starting outfield players on Wednesday either not in the side against West Ham or in a different role.

It is likely on Saturday that only Romeu again in the outfield ten will be in situ from the Wolves game although several others may play in a different formation.

Pellegrino is likely to revert to a more familiar 4- 2 -3 -1 line up and Saints fans will not only be relieved to see that but also the big guns back in the side.

The big question is in the back four, Cedric and Ryan Bertrand will likely be back and the major decision is whether Wesley Hoedt comes straight into the side probably at the expense of Jack Stephens.

Personally I think Hoedt has to come in, the number of chances gifted in the opening three games has been way below the standards expected of Premier League players, we cant keep getting away with leaving players unmarked and presenting them with free headers or shots on goal unchallenged

The holding two will hopefully be Mario Lemina and Romeu and that will give us a good foundation. Steven Davis is likely to fill the third central role.

Wide will be Nathan Redmond on one side and then the manager has to decide who to play wide on the other side, does he go for Dusan Tadic of James Ward Prowse, neither have yet to truly make themselves an automatic choice.

Pellegrino could throw in a surprise or two though, he could play a front two with both Austin or Gabbiadin or one in a deeper lying role, although I think it likely it will be Gabbiadini on his own up front.

What could make the difference though is the bench, Saints will have plenty of options to change things whichever way the game is going, but the Yorkshire side will not have that luxury.

Saints job is to quieten a crowd buoyed by two straight wins, something they did not dream of, but they have to get bac to reality and we could be the team to do that.

I am hopeful of at least a pont in this game, but I do think we can do so much better and take all three points.

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