Southampton vs Preston Match Analysis & Prediction
16/04/2024 10:00 pm
Looking to claw themselves back into the conversation for automatic promotion, Southampton will play host to Preston North End at St Mary’s Stadium for a crucially-important Championship match on Tuesday night.
The Saints secured a last-gasp victory over Watford at the weekend, while the Lilywhites were narrowly beaten at Deepdale by a resurgent Norwich City side.
Finding themselves with a two-goal lead after 20 minutes following goals from William Smallbone and Che Adams on Saturday against Watford, Southampton fans can be forgiven for thinking that a 24th win of the Championship season was going to be a breeze for the remainder of the game.
However, Watford were able to produce a double sting either side of the break to equalise through Ryan Porteous and Ismael Kone, although the Saints secured a much-needed win in added-on time, with Flynn Downes scoring his second of the league season.
With Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Leeds United all dropping points over the weekend, Russell Martin’s side are beginning to rejoin the picture in terms of automatic promotion, with Southampton currently eight points behind first-placed Tractor Boys having played two games fewer.
Since a run of three straight defeats across the Championship and the FA Cup rounded off February on a sour note, Southampton have tasted defeat in just one of their last seven league matches, including home wins over Sunderland, Coventry City and Watford.
Preston’s chances of acieving a top-six finish are all but over following a narrow 1-0 defeat to playoff rivals Norwich at Deepdale on Saturday, when the Lilywhites were unable to secure any point from the side who could very well end up in sixth place by the final kick on May 4.
Last Tuesday’s 4-1 home victory over relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town would have given Preston plenty of confidence heading into the Norwich game, but David Wagner’s East Anglians were a completely different kettle of fish compared to the struggling Terriers, and Gabriel Sara’s 86th-minute strike sealed all the points for the Canaries.
Heading into the final four matches of their campaign, Ryan Lowe’s side are currently occupying 10th position in the Championship standings, eight points behind sixth-placed Norwich, meaning that a near-flawless run from Preston is now required to place inside the top six.
Southampton vs. Preston Head to head
In the 11 previous meetings between these two teams, Southampton have claimed four victories while Preston have won three, and they have drawn in four. Preston have scored 18 goals and conceded 17 in the process.
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01/11/2008Preston North End2Southampton3Championship
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21/02/2009Southampton3Preston North End1Championship
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21/09/2011Southampton2Preston North End1League Cup
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20/07/2019Preston North End1Southampton3Club Friendlies
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25/10/2023Preston North End2Southampton2Championship
Southampton Team News
Southampton remain without the services of striker Ross Stewart, who has endured an injury-riddled time since his move from Sunderland in the summer.
Martin could opt to freshen up his starting side on Tuesday night, with the likes of Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Fraser reliable heads who could be drafted into the XI.
Southampton's Last 5 Matches
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29/03/2024Southampton1Middlesbrough1Championship
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01/04/2024Ipswich Town3Southampton2Championship
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06/04/2024Blackburn Rovers0Southampton0Championship
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09/04/2024Southampton2Coventry City1Championship
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13/04/2024Southampton3Watford2Championship
Preston Team News
Preston will miss the directness of Liam Millar on the flanks, with the Basel loanee potentially out for the remainder of the season due to a groin strain.
Ben Whiteman remain’s in Preston’s medical room due to a leg injury, meaning that Ryan Ledson could partner Irishman Alan Browne in the engine room.
Preston's Last 5 Matches
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29/03/2024Preston North End3Rotherham United0Championship
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01/04/2024Birmingham City1Preston North End0Championship
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06/04/2024Watford0Preston North End0Championship
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09/04/2024Preston North End4Huddersfield Town1Championship
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13/04/2024Preston North End0Norwich City1Championship
Southampton vs. Preston: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
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