Russell Martin desires to see his Southampton aspect replicate their performances towards the Premier League’s largest golf equipment once they face opponents nearer to them within the desk.
Following their return from the worldwide break, the Saints face Everton and Wolves, however begin by welcoming Leicester Metropolis to St. Mary’s this Saturday.
Having watched his workforce go toe-to-toe with Arsenal of their final encounter, Martin is concentrating on the identical method within the upcoming video games that he’s labelled “completely important”.
“We’ve had Newcastle away; Manchester United at residence, the place for half an hour we’ve been excellent; and right here,” Martin stated.
“Now now we have to switch that into the video games which can be going to essentially outline our season, and now we have three or 4 of these developing within the subsequent block of video games which can be going to be completely important.
“The league is so tight and goes to be so tight for therefore lengthy, however in the present day I noticed a lot in a whole lot of the blokes and the workforce, the best way it felt, to make me really feel actually enthusiastic about what’s to return.”
In SO on Saturday pic.twitter.com/SZpi8476Ta
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 16, 2024
Leicester, in the meantime, earned their first win since their return to the Premier League with a 1-0 overcome Bournemouth final day out.
Facundo Buonanotte’s solely purpose sealed the victory, notching his fourth purpose involvement in six Premier League appearances this season – already his joint-most throughout a single marketing campaign within the competitors (additionally 4 in 2023-24)
The Foxes additionally stored a clear sheet at residence within the Premier League for the primary time since October 2022, although head coach Steve Cooper insisted it was only a small step in the proper route.
“Everyone gave every thing within the recreation,” Cooper stated. “They offer every thing each single day in coaching. In fact, within the first quarter of video games there’s issues we might have finished higher, however some issues have actually gone towards us as properly.
“To get that gray cloud away from us of getting that win, we’ve actually bought to assume now about getting some extra constructive outcomes like this. It’s good and also you’ve bought to get pleasure from it, as a result of it’s so laborious to win video games within the Premier League, however it’s one win.
“From now, there gained’t be a day that goes by with out me serious about how we beat Southampton. Clearly, we’ll mirror, however all with the concept of how we are able to enhance to try to go back-to-back once we return after the worldwide break.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Southampton – Cameron Archer
Archer opened his Premier League account in Southampton’s defeat to Arsenal forward of the worldwide break, and he will likely be hoping to proceed his scoring streak on Saturday.
This would be the 22-year-old’s first senior outing towards Leicester, having performed two video games towards them with Aston Villa’s Beneath-18’s, profitable as soon as and dropping the opposite.
Leicester – Jamie Vardy
Vardy has been concerned in 12 objectives towards Southampton in his English league profession (eight objectives, 4 assists) – towards no aspect has he had a hand in additional.
Six of those eight objectives have come at St Mary’s Stadium, together with a hat-trick in October 2019, whereas he has additionally scored two objectives from 5 pictures within the Premier League this time period – no participant to have had not less than 5 makes an attempt has a greater conversion charge than the veteran Foxes striker (40%).
Vibes stage pic.twitter.com/FmQHKGkgqk
— Leicester Metropolis (@LCFC) October 12, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: SOUTHAMPTON WIN
Whereas Southampton are favoured by Opta’s data-led simulations, they’re winless of their final 20 Premier League video games (D5 L15) – failure to win on this match would set a membership document for his or her outright longest winless run of their top-flight historical past.
Although the Saints have had the fifth-highest share of possession within the top-flight this season (57.4%), simply 3.2% of Southampton’s touches have come within the opposition field, the third-lowest ratio this time period.
Martin’s aspect have additionally conceded extra objectives following a excessive turnover than some other aspect within the Premier League this season (4).
And having finished the double over Leicester of their final Premier League marketing campaign collectively in 2022-23, Southampton misplaced each Championship conferences with the Foxes final time period by an mixture rating of 9-1.
Leicester are considered one of simply three groups (together with Arsenal and Man Metropolis) to have scored in each Premier League recreation to this point this season. The Foxes earned their first win of the marketing campaign final day out, final profitable consecutively within the competitors in February 2023.
Nevertheless, they’re winless of their final three Premier League away video games towards Southampton (D2 L1) since a 9-0 win below Brendan Rodgers again in October 2019.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Southampton – 42.2%
Draw – 25.4%
Leicester – 32.5%
