Preview
Southampton vs West Brom Betting Tips
Saturday, 31/12/2016
St.Mary’s Stadium
Bet on West Brom to win at 9/2 odds
Toni Pulis’s West Brom head to the South Coast hoping to return in winning ways after a tough run of fixtures. West Brom have lost three of their four fixtures but they don’t need to drop their heads in misery because the defeats came against Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. Despite the results, West Brom were impressive on the field and should consider themselves unlucky not to share points with Arsenal and Chelsea as both teams managed late escapes to secure a narrow win against the Baggies. West Brom sit ninth in the standings, just one point shy of their Saturday afternoon entertainers.
Southampton were pushed back a step in the standings as they suffered an uncharacteristic 4-1 trouncing at home from Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening. The start of the match was rather promising for the hosts as Virgil Van Djik headed in an early opener to put the Saints ahead. But the visitors equalized soon through Dele Alli. The English international scored the final goal of the match to complete his brace after Harry Kane and Heaung Min Son had put the game beyond Southampton’s reach. The margin could’ve been larger if Harry Kane hadn’t fired a spot-kick over the bar.
TEAM NEWS
- Southampton
Nathan Redmond was shown a straight red after bringing down Delle Alli on Wednesday’s match against Spurs. The midfielder will serve a three match ban.
Injuries: Charlie Austin(shoulder), Jake Hesketh(knock), Jeremy Pied(knee), Matt Targett(hamstring), Alex McCarthy(hamstring)
Doubts: Jordy Clasie(groin)
Suspension: Nathan Redmond(3 matches)
- West Bromwich Albion
Johnny Evans might be left out of selection as he is nursing a minor thigh problem.
Doubts: Saido Berahino(lack of match fitness), Johnny Evans(thigh)
PREDICTION
Southampton had only two days to recover from their humiliating defeat against Spurs. West Brom might take advantage of the situation and claim the bragging rights.
Bet on West Brom to win at 9/2 odds
RECENT FORM
- Southampton(8th in the league, last 5 matches in all competitions)
1-4(Home, Spurs)3-1(Away, Bournemouth)0-0(Away, Southampton)1-0(Home, Middlesbrough)1-1(UEL, Home, Hapoel Be’er Sheeva)
- West Bromwich Albion(9th in the league, last 5 matches in all competitions)
0-1(Away, Arsenal)0-2(Home, Manchester United)3-1(Home, Swansea)0-1(Away, Chelsea)3-1(Home, Watford)
HEAD TO HEAD
Total Played | Southampton wins | West Brom wins | Draws |
74 | 27 | 23 | 24 |
LAST MEETING
16 January, 2016
St. Mary’s
Premier League
Southampton 3-West Brom 0
INTERESTING FACTS
- Southampton last 20 home games against teams below them-13 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses, scored 2 goals/game, conceded 0.8 goals/game
- West Brom last 20 away games against teams above them-3 wins, 7 draws, 10 losses, scored 0.7 goals/game, conceded 1.4 goals/game
- Southampton have lost just once in their last six Premier League contests against the Baggies at home (W3 D2).
- West Brom have scored just once in their last six Premier League games against Southampton but this was enough for victory in February 2015 (D2 L3).
- Only once in 12 previous Premier League games between these two have both teams scored – a 2-2 draw contested by Steve Wigley’s Saints and Frank Burrows’ West Brom.
- Southampton have failed to win their final league game of a calendar year since 2010 (D2 L3 since).
- In the Baggies’ last Premier League game against Arsenal, goalkeeper Ben Foster made 10 saves – the most by a West Brom goalkeeper since Boaz Myhill made 13 against Man City in March 2015.
- West Brom have managed one clean sheet in their last 13 away Premier League games, a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in August.
- West Brom winger Hal Robson-Kanu has been substituted on 13 times this season – more than any other Premier League player. He is yet to start a game and his collective appearances have yielded just 96 minutes of football.
- Claude Puel will be the 83rd different manager that Tony Pulis has faced in the Premier League. The WBA boss has been victorious against 50 of the previous 82 in the competition.
- Southampton conceded four goals in their last Premier League home game (1-4 v Spurs) – this after they have conceded only five in their first eight at St Mary’s this season in the Premier League.
- Saints have not lost successive Premier League home games in over two years (December 8th 2014, the last time).