x

Saints At Crystal Palace The Preview

Saints look to follow up the win at Brighton by winning at Crystal Palace, they have the squad it just needs to start playing to it's potential.

Saints head to Selhurst Park apparently with only one injury worry Danny Ings with a sore foot, so Mark Hughes has a dilemma assuming Ings is not fit to start.

Up front at The Amex on Tuesday Manolo Gabbiadini was often isolated from the game and rarely got a goal scoring opportunity, but Charlie Austin scored and looked hungry for the ball and Sam Gallagher showed enough enthusiasm to suggest that he might be worth a shout from the bench.

Nathan Redmond also looked sharp and had a confidence about him that he has lacked for some time now and he looks likely to start.

If Hughes opts for a back four then he will probably revert back to the one that played against Leicester, although with Matt Targett having a decent game against Brighton, he could opt to play Targett or even Ryan Bertrand at right back with the other at left and drop Cedric who has looked off the pace in the past couple of games.

Targett, Gallagher, Redmond & Austin all gave a good account of themselves at Brighton, alongside new signings Armstrong & Elyounoussibut apart from them I don't think anyone else really pushed themselves into Mark Hughes thinking so I suspect he will line up his team as follows.

McCarthy

Cedric Hoedt Vestergaard Bertrand

Elyounoussi Lemina Hojbjerg Armstrong Redmond

Austin

The bench should be strong, Gunn, Bednarek, Targett Ward Prowse, Romeu, Long, Ings (if fit if not Gabbiadini or Gallagher)

Saints really need a win to get this season underway, Mark Hughes has struggled so far this season to get his side playing with confidence and that has led to some very slow starts in games where we seem to be afraid to go full pelt at sides for fear of getting caught on the break from set pieces, we really need the confidence that a win would bring us.

So far we have played the teams that finished 7th 8th and 9th last season, as hard a start as you could get without meeting one of the big six, now we need to find that confidence and put a winning run together to make sure that we don't face another season looking over our shoulder.

What to read next:

The Amex Stadium - A Visitors Guide
Our friends at the Brighton & Hove Albion Supporters Club have sent us a very informative guide to having a good visit to the Amex Stadium, at least off the pitch anyway.
Southampton V Liverpool The Verdict
A performance from Saints that veered from one end of the spectrum to the other, but ultimately a battling performance was ruined by all 3 goals being gifted to Liverpool in one shape or form.
Southampton 2 - 3 Liverpool - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Will Saints Be Cast Adrift At The Bottom Before They Kick A Ball This Weekend
The Premier League table does not make good viewing unless you turn it upside down, Southampton are rock bottom 2 points adrift from the team above and 4 points off Ipswich 4th from bottom, so will that gap be worse before we kick off on Sunday.
Southampton V Liverpool The Preview
Usually the visit of Liverpool to The Dell & St Mary's was something that Saints fans looked forward to in the calendar, it was a game that often threw up a shock result for the home side, but as we go into the latest clash with the Merseyside men, there seems little hope of that this year.
Return Dates Set For Injured Southampton Duo Ramsdale And Bednarek
If you thought that things couldn't get worse for Russell Martin after the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, then think again, injuries to two key players in the past fortnight have added to his woes.
Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash
With Jan Bednarek seemingly set to miss his first Premier League game of the season, Saints are struggling for central defenders to take on the League leaders Liverpool at St Mary's, is it time to bring in a player out of the cold.
Does Shea Charles Prove That Russell Martin's Player Judgement is Flawed
There has been a lot of words typed on the internet about Russell Martin and his tactics, but is this just the reason as to why we are doing badly in the Premier League, last season there was a clear evidence that his player selection is not what it should be.
Central Defensive Injury Blow For Southampton
If the next few weeks were going to be tough with the potential absence of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, then they are now getting much worse with the news that a central defender has been injured in International duty over the weekend.
England England's Number 16
It was a dream England debut for Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis, in front of his future Father in law ex Manchester United & Republic of Ireland legend Roy Keane, not only scoring but also nearly getting an assist.