please log in to view this image V please log in to view this image Team News: Saints - Adam Lallana COULD return from injury, Lee Barnard is back in contention, while Jose Fonte is unlikely to be available for selection. Radhi Jaidi misses out following a knee operation and Dean Hammond returns from suspension. Boro - Carl Ikeme has returned to Wolves after picking up an injury, so Jason Steele is expected to deputise. Barry Robson also returns. FORM GUIDE: (Most Recent Result Appearing First - League Games ONLY) Southampton: DWDWLD Middlesbrough:WLDDDD Expected Southampton Line-Up: (4-4-2) Davis; Richardson, Martin, Hooiveld, Fox; Do Prado, Hammond, Cork, Chaplow; Lambert, Connolly. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thoughts/Predictions/Match Banter/Updates Here DTLW
Prediction 0-0 Can't see us scoring against their defence, and can't see their strikeforce scoring Saints Team: Davis Richardson Martin Hooiveld Fox Guly Schneiderlin Cork Chaplow Connolly Lambert SUBS: Bialkowski, Harding, Hammond, De Ridder, Barnard
I think Morgan might start ahead of Deano, so I'll go with SaintsFan's team. I think Lallana might be on the bench though. If he, and either De Ridder or Barnard come on for the last 30 minutes, 'Boro won't know what's hit them. 3-0 Saints.
hoping for 2-1 or 1-0. Can see us conceeding with Martin and Hooiveld at the back. ---------------------Davis Richardson---Martin---Hooiveld---Fox ------Cork---Schneiderlin---Hammond ----------------Lallana -------------Guly--Lambert
Morgan should start, he was best player on the pitch on tuesday, can't see lallana being chucked straight back in, bench for him would love to see barnard start and fonte maybe could do with some time out anyway, not himself lately Davis Richardson Martin Hoovield Fox Guly Morgan Cork Chaplow Connolly Lambert Subs: Bart, harding, Lallana, de ridder, barney 3-2 saints!
Hammond served his ban on tuesday i think.I'm going for a tight game tomorrow which i think will end in a draw,would be happy with that if we can pick up 3 points on tuesday.
Fonte missing out (assuming he does) saves Adkins having to make a decision over who to drop out of the squad, to make way for Barnard (assuming he is selected). Although if Lallana is fit, someone will have to drop out any way - and in that case, I'm really not sure who it would be. Morgan? Harding? De Ridder? Davis Richardson Fonte/Martin Hooiveld Fox Guly Hammond Cork Lallana/Chaplow Lambert Connolly
Oh, and my prediction is a comfortable 2-0. Miles more confident about this one than I was for Leeds, Forest, Brum and West Ham, and we won all of them. I just think our attack will prove itself to be too strong for Boro's tight defence. As well as it has done for them - and keeping clean sheets vs Derby, Reading, Palace, Leicester, Ipswich, Burnley, Leeds & Posh is very impressive - I just think that we're a notch above those sides as an attacking force (well we are top after all, and have scored in every game so far) and should break Boro down. And up the other end of the field, if we keep Emnes quiet than we keep Boro quiet. Only three players have scored more than once for them this season; Williams has 2, Robson has 4 and Emnes has 9.
Best defense in the league against the best attack...should make for an interesting contrast of styles. Going to say 1-0 Saints if Hooiveld and Martin are up to the task, 1-1 if they are not.
It's 6 points from these 2 home games we have had a slight wobble in the last week and what better way to show we are Southampton and here to stay by continuing our fantastic home record! Sure tomorrow will be tough and we might have to be patient but I just think were fully about to stamp down what serious contenders we are in this league. Saints 1-0 Boro.... If we score in the first 20 mins 3-1 Saints! COYR!
3-0 Saints for me Saints team for me: Davis Richardson Martin Hoiveld Fox Guly Hammond Cork Chaplow Lambert De Ridder Subs: Bart, Harding, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Barnard
---------------Davis--------------- --Richardson--Martin--Hooiveld--Fox-- --Guly--Hammond--Schneiderlin--Lallana-- ---------Lambert---Connolly------------- Subs: Bart, Harding, Cork, De Ridder, Barnard/Chaplow (Whoever is most fit to feature).
Davis Richardson Martin Hooiveld Fox Guly Hammond Scniederlin Chaplow lambert connolly Subs Bialkoski (sp) Harding De Ridder Cork Barnard
I feel that this will be a not very entertaining 1-1 draw. Having Lallana back would be a massive bonus but I have a sneeky feeling about unfancied Middlesborough getting promoted this year. This will not be an easy match.
They're gonna do a job on us...maybe about time we tried to tough it out a bit more. Love our flowing game, but there are times when teams will spoil it...have we got an answer this time? Score draw for me :-( And yes I am ritually pessimistic before games! ;-)
