Rock-bottom Southampton face a tricky test against Wolves in a huge encounter in the race for Premier League survival.
Victory would see the Saints stay bottom but move to within 11 points of safety, whilst Wolves will stay 17th regardless of the result but could move nine points clear of the drop if Ipswich lose elsewhere.
Team News
Jan Bednarek is ruled out for Southampton due to concussion protocols following his substitution in their 3-1 loss at Liverpool last weekend.
Will Smallbone (adductor) will also miss out this weekend alongside; James Bree (unspecified), Juan Larios (fitness), Ryan Fraser (knock) and Ross Stewart (calf) who remain ruled out.
Wolves expect Marshal Munetsi to be available after he suffered a knock in their 1-1 draw against Everton, which had forced him off at half-time.
Matheus Cunha (suspension), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Leon Chiwone, Sasa Kalajdzic and Enso Gonzalez (all ACL) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Southampton host Wolves at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday 15 March at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Southampton are winless in their last nine league meetings against Wolves (D2, L7).
- Wolves have won on each of their last four visits to Southampton (W4), during which they scored eight goals to Southampton’s four goals.
- Southampton are yet to be awarded a penalty against Wolves in the Premier League.
- No Southampton player has made more touches on the ball in this season’s top-flight than Taylor Harwood-Bellis (1,897).
- Jorgen Strand Larsen has lost more aerial battles than any other Wolves player in the top-flight this season (75).
Prediction
Currently 14 points off safety, Southampton know that anything less than a win will all but mathematically confirm their relegation but if they can snatch a win then there is a small glimmer of hope of an unlikely escape if can somehow ace the run-in and those just above them all slip up massively.
Last weekend though showed signs of positive improvement with a solid first-half display defensively at Liverpool but they were ultimately outclassed, yet they must take heart and try to bring the clinical end product here with a strong defence.
Wolves meanwhile grinded out a draw against Everton with a solid comeback goal without Cunha’s presence but given their form in this fixture, they really need to find a way to win this which will surely put survival firmly in their hands if Ipswich slip up elsewhere.
I however do think that the Saints should have enough quality to snatch a draw given Wolves’ current lack of a bright attacking goalscoring spark.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Wolves
Result: Southampton 1-2 Wolves
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