Promotion-chasing Southampton welcome Plymouth Argyle to St Mary’s Stadium in a South Coast derby.
Victory would see Russell Martin’s Saints stay third in the table, whilst Plymouth could climb into 15th position with a win if Blackburn lose elsewhere.
Team News
Southampton have no fresh injury concerns to report following their Boxing Day victory over Swansea.
James Bree, Kamaldeen Sulemana (both hamstring), Juan Larios (unspecified) and Ross Stewart (muscle) remain absent.
Plymouth have no fresh injury concerns to report but Lewis Warrington (knee) is still sidelined indefinitely.
When is Kick-Off?
Southampton host Plymouth at St Mary’s Stadium in a 6pm GMT kick-off on Friday 29 December, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Southampton have won two of their last eight league meetings against Plymouth (W2, D3, L3).
- Plymouth have avoided defeat in four of their last nine visits to Southampton (W2, D2, L5).
- Southampton have kept just one clean sheet in their last three home matches against Plymouth (D1, L2), which came in a 0-0 draw in November 2008.
- Nine of Adam Armstrong’s 12 league goals for Southampton this season have been scored at home.
- Morgan Whittaker has scored four goals in his last three appearances for Plymouth.
Prediction
Following their clinical yet ruthless demolition of Swansea on Boxing Day after weathering some initial early first-half pressure, Southampton certainly will be oozing confidence given that they’re now unbeaten in 16 matches.
Plymouth meanwhile aren’t renowned for their clean sheets this season and are winless on the road but out of their five draws away from home, they’ve managed three clean sheets yet that will be a massive ask against an in-form Southampton.
One positive though is that Argyle do certainly know how to produce goals and are unbeaten in four of their last six games, which means that they shouldn’t be underestimated at all so I do expect this derby to be quite a battle if both teams bring their best attacking quality.
Southampton however should really edge this given their better defensive ability but there surely will be goals at both ends.
Prediction: Southampton 2-1 Plymouth
Result: Southampton 2-1 Plymouth
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