Suggested Bet: Southampton to Win to Nil @ 3.96, available at BetInAsia
Tuesday nights’ Premier League affair between them could be an open battle as both sides seem prepared to claim three points.
For Southampton, who claimed a 2-3 victory away at Championship side Swansea City, the match should offer an opportunity for the return of Che Adams after missing matches due to COVID. Plus, Mohammed Salisu returns after a match ban. However they also go into this match still without key players: Moussa Djenepo, Tino Livramento, Alex McCarthy, Thierry Small, Yan Valery and Kyle Walker-Peters.
Brentford also welcome back key players into the squad, Sergi Canos and Mathias Jensen who both suffered from short-term injuries. But also still lack many of their key players, with Frank Onyeka also out to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Both teams sitting in mid-table and with excessive absences could present both teams with an opportunity to get a much-needed win.
Although the sides have met plenty of times in the past, this is the first top-flight match that the Bees and the Saints have had against each other. The last two meetings between the clubs have been on the side of Brentford, with them clinching a win against them in the Carabao Cup. Before that, the last time the two sides met was in 2010 in the Championship in which Brentford also found victory in.
Eighteen of the 26 goals Brentford have conceded this Premier League season have all come in the first-half of their games. However, they have scored three winning goals in the final 10 minutes of league games this season, more than any other top-flight side. It will be key for Southampton to kick off early and grab a hold of this game in order to prevent a late Brentford victory.
Southampton have lost four of their past six league matches against promoted sides, including to bottom-of-the-table Norwich City. All four of Southampton’s league victories this campaign have been by a one-goal margin.
With St. Mary’s Stadium being a bit of a fortress (The Saints only defeat in nine home league fixtures this season came against Wolves in September) and with Brentford’s poor form away, Southampton certainly look more like the likely victors. Even if they are currently below them in the league.
Suggested Bet: Southampton to Win to Nil @ 3.96, available at BetInAsia
