English Premier
2020-01-18 - Southampton vs Wolves
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 18th January 2019 - Kick Off 3pm
Southampton
The good times keep rolling for Southampton who produced another top class performance in the 1-2 win at Leicester City last weekend and that has pushed them a little further clear of the troubles brewing behind them. All season the performances have been better than the results for Southampton, but Ralph Hasenhuttl has not lost his principles and has subsequently been rewarded with some big time results.
Those results have seen Southampton make significant progress up the Premier League table and they go into this weekend in 12th place and with a 7 point gap to Aston Villa in the bottom three. The Saints have also been improving at home where they now have a 3-2-6 record this season and the fans have to believe in what their manager is doing for the club.
Southampton looked on the brink of changing their manager when going down to a 0-1 home defeat to West Ham United, but they have bounced back to produce a 6 game unbeaten run in all competitions during which time they have won 5 times. They have won 4 of their last 6 games at St Mary's in all competitions too and have even picked up back to back clean sheets.
Yan Valery is the only absentee in the Southampton squad going into this fixture.
Wolves
Some might be suggesting that a long season is already beginning to take its toll on what is a relatively shallow Wolves squad, especially with the added Europa League commitments they have been asked to play. Nuno Espirito Santo picked a strong team for the FA Cup Third Round Replay during the week, but it might have been beneficial in the long run that Wolves exited that tournament and will at least have some rest before the Europa League resumes next month.
Over a twenty two day period beginning later this month, Wolves will only be asked to play one fixture and that could be huge to give the squad a chance to recharge some batteries. They will still have some big ambitions for the remainder of this season with the side sitting in 7th place in the Premier League table and also in the Knock Out Rounds of the Europa League.
Wolves have now failed to win any of their last 5 games in all competitions and slumped to a defeat 3 times during that run. All of those losses have come away from home where Wolves have dropped 3 games in succession since beating Norwich City 1-2 at Carrow Road.
Willy Boly, Ruben Vinagre and Diogo Jota are all expected to miss out.
Head to Head
Earlier this season Wolves and Southampton drew 1-1 at Molinuex.
Southampton had not won any of 3 home games against Wolves before beating them 3-1 here last season.
Prediction
It is one thing losing at Old Trafford, but there were definite signs for Wolves that a long season could be taking its toll on the players. Nuno Espirito Santo has largely selected from a very small group of players who were involved in their 38th game this season already when taking to the field at Manchester United in an unwanted FA Cup Third Round Replay.
The defeat might not be too bad for the long-term prospects of the squad as Wolves have now secured what is essentially a three week break during which time they will play once. That will give the squad a chance to just get some energy back in the legs and a boost to take into the final three months of the season when the Europa League and Premier League fixtures resume the Thursday-Sunday/Monday schedule.
However that break is still a few days away and it means Wolves could be vulnerable in their remaining two Premier League games before entering that long patch without fixtures.
First up is a trip to rested Southampton who are also one of the hottest teams in the Premier League with 5 wins from their last 6 in all competitions. They have also won 4 of their last 6 at St Mary's and I do like the level being produced by Southampton which makes them a worthy favourite in this one.
Even with that form in mind and with Wolves having a tough game at Old Trafford during the week, it is not entirely easy backing Southampton to win with a lot of confidence. The team have been creating chances and scoring goals, but Wolves can pick up their level at any given time and I do think they are dangerous enough to be respected here.
I'd be disappointed if Southampton were to lose this game though and backing them on the Double Chance and coupling it with at least two goals being scored looks the play. There have been two or more goals shared out in all 3 of their Premier League meetings since Wolves returned to the top flight eighteen months ago and even the 2 clean sheets Southampton have had in back to back games here doesn't have me believing in what has been a vulnerable defence all season.
Southampton do have goals in the side though and can expose any tired legs they find so the pick highlighted looks the best one for me.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Southampton 2-1 Wolves
