Southampton continue their promotion chase against Preston in a rearranged Championship clash at St Mary’s Stadium.
Southampton will stay fourth regardless of the result but victory would put the Saints within four points of the second automatic promotion spot.
Preston can move up to seventh with a win and sit five points behind sixth-placed Norwich who currently hold the last play-off spot.
Team News
Southampton have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-2 win over Watford last weekend.
Juan Larios and Ross Stewart (both hamstring) remain absent.
Preston have no fresh injury concerns following their home defeat against Norwich.
Liam Millar (groin) is unlikely to feature but Alistair McCann (thigh), Ben Whiteman (ankle) and Brad Potts (hamstring) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Southampton host Preston at St Mary’s Stadium on Tuesday 16 April at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Southampton have won two of their last nine league meetings against Preston (W2, D4, L3).
- Preston have won one of their last six league visits to Southampton (W1, D2, L3).
- Southampton have conceded in seven of their last eight home matches against Preston in all competitions.
- Che Adams has scored in each of Southampton’s last two home matches (W2).
- Preston have scored one goal in their last three away matches (W1, D1, L1).
Prediction
Currently seven points of the final automatic promotion spot with two games in hand coming into this first of two rearranged matches, Southampton know that they need to win their remaining games if want to snatch an unlikely top-two finish.
Russell Martin’s Saints however can’t afford to drop focus like they did against Watford when 2-0 up because they were lucky to get that late winner, but the resilience showed to avoid totally losing it shows that there is still desire in this team to go up automatically.
Preston though must win to keep their play-off dreams alive as a draw or defeat would all but mathematically end those hopes, especially after a wasteful performance against Norwich in what was a key game but I do feel that their season could peter out here.
It won’t be a surprise to see rotation but if Southampton play like they did on Saturday and don’t drop focus, I can see them creeping ever closer towards the top three but Preston should give them a tough battle defensively.
Prediction: Southampton 2-0 Preston
Result: Southampton 3-0 Preston
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