Southampton Vs Sunderland
Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread
St Mary's Stadium
Match Apointments
Preview
Southampton need to prove the defeat at Tottenham was a blip and that their early season form is not just a flash in the pan.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have drawn too many but would gladly take a point from St Mary's.
They knocked the Saints out of both cups last season to extend their unbeaten run against them to eight games.
The last man to hit a top-flight winner for Southampton against Sunderland was James Beattie - 11 years ago.
Gus Poyet maintains the finest achievement of his first year on Wearside has been instilling a gritty fighting spirit into the side. It saved them last season, and they have only lost three of their last 15 games in all competitions.
John O'Shea has been an ever present in those matches, marshalling a defence which has conceded just 15 goals in that run. The Irishman has had a wonderful week, scoring a famous last-gasp equaliser against Germany on his 100th cap, before signing a contract extension at Sunderland.
Just six Sunderland players won caps during the international break, only three of whom played twice. In contrast, more than a dozen Southampton stars have been away.
Travel will have left some squad members drained but others will have been buoyed by international success - such as Graziano Pelle, who scored the only goal against Malta on his Italy debut.
The Premier League Player of the Month for September has bagged six goals in his last eight games for club and country, with Southampton firing in more crosses than any other top-flight side to suit his style.
Sunderland will need to stop the service from Dusan Tadic, who has scored or created 60 goals in 73 league appearances for Twente and Saints since the start of last season.
He was involved in the Serbia-Albania controversy this week though. How much will that have taken out him?
The fall-out from international duty will be crucial in what will be a tight match.
Southampton have the meanest defence in the English leagues. At the other end, there's been no better shot stopper than Sunderland's Vito Mannone this season. A score draw would not be a surprise.
Southampton Team News
Koeman has no new injury worries following the international break, but revealed that he is yet to catch up with Emmanuel Mayuka and Sadio Mané with the pair set to return from their countries today.
Sunderland Team News
Sunderland full-back Billy Jones is ruled out with a muscle injury sustained in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week.
He joins Sebastian Coates, Emanuele Giaccherini and Ricky Alvarez on the sidelines.
Key Men
Southampton- Graziano Pelle
With four goals already in his first 7 appearances for the club, Graziano Pelle already looks to have a major say on where the Saints finally end up in the table this season. Heâs worked well so far at the centre of Koemanâs fluid front three, with 1.6 chances created per game and averaging around 3.3 shots on goal per 90 minutes. He already has an entry for the Goal of the Season contender with his stunning overhead kick against QPR, but his link-up play with his teammates is one area that can improve further; heâs averaged 30 passes per game so far with an accuracy of just 70%, and losing possession against a packed Sunderland midfield with Lee Cattermole in a defensive enforcer role could spring the Black Cats on the counter attack through Johnsons pace on the flanks, so itâll be up to the Italian to take more care with the ball and hold on to possession whenever possible. Since August 2012, Pelle has scored 54 goals in 64 league appearances, and heâll be hoping to extend that run of form against a stingy Sunderland defense that has only conceded 7 goals so far this campaign.
Sunderlandâ John O'Shea
The Republic of Ireland international has had a fantastic week so far, and will be hoping to carry that into this crunch fixture. The former Manchester United defender scored a last-minute equalizer against world champions Germany in Euro qualifiers earlier in the week on his 100th international cap, and then followed it up by signing a two-year contract extension with the Black Cats, for whom he has made more than 100 appearances since joining in 2011. The outcome of this game will be decided by how well his partnership with Vergini keeps Southamptonâs fearsome front three of Tadic, Pelle and Mane at bay, and Sunderland will need their captain to marshall the defense expertly if they are to get anything from this game.
Posters Prediction
This week we welcome thematch.co.uk writer Tom Murray, better known on the Not606 Southampton board as saintsfcfan. He'll be joined by our very own wise fella with their take on the weekends clash. Thank you for your time gentlemen.
Head-to-head
Southampton
Sunderland
Head to Head
Last Corresponding Fixture
Form
Betting
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/southampton-v-sunderland/winner
Links
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/fans/away-fans/
Streaming
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=280496&part=sports
Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread
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St Mary's Stadium
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Match Apointments
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Preview
Southampton need to prove the defeat at Tottenham was a blip and that their early season form is not just a flash in the pan.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have drawn too many but would gladly take a point from St Mary's.
They knocked the Saints out of both cups last season to extend their unbeaten run against them to eight games.
The last man to hit a top-flight winner for Southampton against Sunderland was James Beattie - 11 years ago.
Gus Poyet maintains the finest achievement of his first year on Wearside has been instilling a gritty fighting spirit into the side. It saved them last season, and they have only lost three of their last 15 games in all competitions.
John O'Shea has been an ever present in those matches, marshalling a defence which has conceded just 15 goals in that run. The Irishman has had a wonderful week, scoring a famous last-gasp equaliser against Germany on his 100th cap, before signing a contract extension at Sunderland.
Just six Sunderland players won caps during the international break, only three of whom played twice. In contrast, more than a dozen Southampton stars have been away.
Travel will have left some squad members drained but others will have been buoyed by international success - such as Graziano Pelle, who scored the only goal against Malta on his Italy debut.
The Premier League Player of the Month for September has bagged six goals in his last eight games for club and country, with Southampton firing in more crosses than any other top-flight side to suit his style.
Sunderland will need to stop the service from Dusan Tadic, who has scored or created 60 goals in 73 league appearances for Twente and Saints since the start of last season.
He was involved in the Serbia-Albania controversy this week though. How much will that have taken out him?
The fall-out from international duty will be crucial in what will be a tight match.
Southampton have the meanest defence in the English leagues. At the other end, there's been no better shot stopper than Sunderland's Vito Mannone this season. A score draw would not be a surprise.
Southampton Team News
Koeman has no new injury worries following the international break, but revealed that he is yet to catch up with Emmanuel Mayuka and Sadio Mané with the pair set to return from their countries today.
Sunderland Team News
Sunderland full-back Billy Jones is ruled out with a muscle injury sustained in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week.
He joins Sebastian Coates, Emanuele Giaccherini and Ricky Alvarez on the sidelines.
Key Men
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Southampton- Graziano Pelle
With four goals already in his first 7 appearances for the club, Graziano Pelle already looks to have a major say on where the Saints finally end up in the table this season. Heâs worked well so far at the centre of Koemanâs fluid front three, with 1.6 chances created per game and averaging around 3.3 shots on goal per 90 minutes. He already has an entry for the Goal of the Season contender with his stunning overhead kick against QPR, but his link-up play with his teammates is one area that can improve further; heâs averaged 30 passes per game so far with an accuracy of just 70%, and losing possession against a packed Sunderland midfield with Lee Cattermole in a defensive enforcer role could spring the Black Cats on the counter attack through Johnsons pace on the flanks, so itâll be up to the Italian to take more care with the ball and hold on to possession whenever possible. Since August 2012, Pelle has scored 54 goals in 64 league appearances, and heâll be hoping to extend that run of form against a stingy Sunderland defense that has only conceded 7 goals so far this campaign.
Sunderlandâ John O'Shea
The Republic of Ireland international has had a fantastic week so far, and will be hoping to carry that into this crunch fixture. The former Manchester United defender scored a last-minute equalizer against world champions Germany in Euro qualifiers earlier in the week on his 100th international cap, and then followed it up by signing a two-year contract extension with the Black Cats, for whom he has made more than 100 appearances since joining in 2011. The outcome of this game will be decided by how well his partnership with Vergini keeps Southamptonâs fearsome front three of Tadic, Pelle and Mane at bay, and Sunderland will need their captain to marshall the defense expertly if they are to get anything from this game.
Posters Prediction
This week we welcome thematch.co.uk writer Tom Murray, better known on the Not606 Southampton board as saintsfcfan. He'll be joined by our very own wise fella with their take on the weekends clash. Thank you for your time gentlemen.
saintsfcfan(Tom Murray) said:
Stats & Facts
Head-to-head
- Sunderland are unbeaten in their last eight league and cup games against Southampton (W4, D4).
- The Black Cats knocked Saints out of the FA Cup and League Cup last season, but both league meetings were drawn.
Southampton
- Defeat at Tottenham halted Saints' run of six successive wins in league and cup.
- Southampton are chasing a third straight home win and are unbeaten at St Mary's since a 1-0 defeat by Cardiff in April.
- No team in the Premier League or Football League has conceded as few league goals (five) or home league goals (one) as Saints.
- They have delivered 164 crosses from open play in this season's Premier League - more than any other side.
- Graziano Pelle has been involved in five goals in his last five league games (four goals, one assist).
Sunderland
- The Black Cats' 3-1 win against Stoke was only the second time in 21 league games that they have netted more than twice.
- Connor Wickham's strike against the Potters ended his run of nine Premier League games without a goal, while Steven Fletcher's brace halted his streak of 13 league and cup matches without scoring.
- Gus Poyet's side have lost two of their last 13 Premier League games, including just one this season.
Head to Head
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Last Corresponding Fixture
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Form
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Betting
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/southampton-v-sunderland/winner
Links
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/fans/away-fans/
Streaming
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=280496&part=sports
