x

Southampton At Coventry City The Preview

It was a mixed bag of results on Tuesday night, but Leeds defeat at Sunderland does give Saints the chance to go level on points with the Yorkshire club as well as put distance again between us and 7th.

Southampton make their first visit to Coventry City in 12 years when they travel to The Coventry Building Society Stadium this evening, they meet a Coventry side who are in a run of form that has seen them pull clear of the relegation battle and harbour hopes of challenging for promotion again.

From a Southampton perspective it is about getting back to winning ways, in any other season we would perhaps be in the top 2 with 38 points from 20 games, but this is not any other season.

So the big question is what changes Russell Martin will make, I would not expect any in the goalkeeper or back four, but certainly in the midfield where Flynn Downes should return after illness that forced him to miss the game with Watford, indeed I see only two probably changes with the other one being Charley Alcatraz who was poor at Vicarage Road.

Taking Downes return first, Joe Aribo deputised and had a good game, so it would be harsh on him to be dropped, so this will be an interesting decision.

Replacing Alacaraz is also complicated, Ryan Fraser did well after coming on at Watford and would be the obvious choice, but in his previous games in the starting line up he has not been as impressive as he has been coming off the bench.

So for Saints although the team selection might not be clear, the task ahead is simple, keep the unbeaten run going and not just that win and win well.

The one disappointment is that we are yet to really give someone a real tonking, some are critical of this and say that it is because we play tippy tappy football and don't try to kill the game off, I don't necessarily agree, we create chances, we just don't seem to be able to finish them off. as was the case at Watford when their keeper made a superb save from Ryan Frazer that made a difference come the final whistle.

This is going to be a season of attrition, it's a case of just keeping going, it's not going to be about individual games, just keeping plugging away and hoping that those above us drop points.

If we can get 3 points tonight then we will have gained a point over Leeds this week and that is a small victory if we can achieve it.

This is a game that we can win and we need to settle a few nerves by doing so ahead of a busy Xmas programme.

What to read next:

Southampton Set To Keep Chelsea Loan Signing
A couple of weeks ago it was odds on that Maxwell Cornet & Lesley Ugochukwu would be recalled by their club's, but now the situation seems to have changed for one of them.
Southampton V Brentford The Preview
Make no bones about this game, should Saints lose to the Bees, then with only 3 days gone of the New Year, we will just about be done and dusted in any effort to try and avoid relegation back to the championship.
Shea Charles On The Radar Of 3 Top Flight Clubs
The silly season starts today and the rumour mill is already turning at Southampton FC, one man who Russell Martin deemed surplus to requirements was midfielder Shea Charles who is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, however he is attracting interest for a permanent move.
Do Southampton Cut Their Losses Now On This Season And Cash In On Kyle Walker Peters
After the Xmas period Saints find themselves effectively 11 points from safety due to our abysmal goal difference, so is the time nigh when we have to write off this season and start planning for the next and that means cashing in on Kyle Walker Peters.
Southampton At Crystal Palace The Verdict
Another improved performance but unfortunately another defeat meaning that an Xmas period that has seen only 1 point from 3 games, means that beating the drop is now an almost impossible task.
Crystal Palace 2 - 1 Southampton - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Southampton At Crystal Palace The Preview
The clock is ticking now on Saints chances of survival in the premier League, the Saints board's hesitancy, has left Ivan Duric with an uphill battle and that means that every game is must win.
Southampton In Advanced Talks For Defender But Could This Spell The End For Walker Peters
Saints are said to be the front runner for a left back also wanted by Nottingham Forest & Benfica, but could this mean they will cash in with Kyle Walker-Peters with his contract due up in the summer of 2025.
A Rough Guide To Crystal Palace
It's been a couple of years since we have been up to Selhurst Park, so time for a quick refresh on how to get there and what's around the ground etc, in fact all the info that you need for the trip.
Southampton V West Ham United The Verdict
It was a different and far more positive performance by Ivan Juric's Saints side than under his predecessor, but despite the more attacking style employed the result was the same as most of those achieved before.