Southampton welcome Crystal Palace to St Mary’s Stadium in the second of a Tuesday Night Football double-header.
Victory would lift Southampton up to 14th, whereas Palace can consolidate 13th with a win.
Team News
Danny Ings could be in contention for Southampton if he passes a late fitness test on a hamstring injury.
Takumi Minamino is set to start after sitting out Saturday’s loss at Liverpool through ineligibility, as per terms of his loan deal from the Merseyside club.
Ryan Bertrand (calf), Will Smallbone (knee) and and Oriol Romeu (ankle) remain absent.
Palace could welcome James Tomkins back from an eye injury which kept the defender sidelined in recent months.
Mamadou Sakho (thigh), James McArthur (muscle), Nathan Ferguson (thigh) and Connor Wickham (knock) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Southampton have lost just one of their last five meetings against Crystal Palace (W2, D2, L1).
- Palace have won just one of their last five trips to St Mary’s Stadium (W1, D2, L2), with both teams scoring in their last five clashes on the South Coast.
- Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints have failed to win any of their last three home games in which they scored first (D2, L1).
- Palace have scored first in three of their last five away matches (W2, L1).
- Southampton won their only previous clash this season refereed by Andrew Madley in all competitions, defeating Sheffield United 3-0 at home in December.
Prediction
Despite suffering defeat at Liverpool on Saturday, Southampton should be pleased with their defensive performance because they did defend well against constant waves of attack and created impressive chances of their own.
Palace meanwhile were just dominant at Sheffield United in terms of their pressing and maximising their pace on the flanks, so I expect them to come here and make life tough for the Saints.
On that note, I hope to see a proper competitive contest here between two teams who really should be scrapping for a top ten finish if can apply themselves, but I can’t see them being separated here.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace
Result: Southampton 3-1 Crystal Palace
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