High-flying Southampton visit Aston Villa on Monday night aiming to close to within four points of Premiership leaders Chelsea.
Many had forecast a difficult season for Saints after the loss of their coach and several key first-team players but such predictions have proved hopelessly wide of the mark. They surprised many on the opening day of the season at Anfield when only the woodwork prevented them from taking at least a point. Only Tottenham have managed to beat them since and they arrive at Villa Park on the back of five straight wins and eleven in their last twelve competitive fixtures.
It looks as though Dusan Tadic and Morgan Schneiderlin should be fit enough to take part but injuries are undoubtedly the biggest threat to Southampton’s impressive run of form. They have started only fifteen players so far this season while Liverpool and Manchester United have used 21 and 22 respectively. There is already talk of Koeman strengthening his squad in the January transfer window but there is a difficult run of fixtures before then.
In the course of the next month, Southampton’s mettle will be tested by both Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Everton and leaders Chelsea. Most pundits will be expecting the Saints to struggle but Koeman is taking one match at a time. He is not pleased about the fixture congestion over Christmas but a victory on Monday night will further underline their claims for a top four spot.
Aston Villa started the season brightly but Paul Lambert’s side have fallen away badly in recent weeks. They have only taken a point from their last five matches and it is hardly the run of form that Lambert would have wanted to bring into his 100th game at the helm. That goalless draw at Upton Park at least showed that his players are battling to stop the rot, although the injuries to Fabian Delph and Philippe Senderos and the suspension of Christian Benteke are severe blows.
Graziano Pelle has already scored 10 times this season for Saints and he could be the difference between the sides. Villa keeper Brad Guzan had to work overtime to keep West Ham at bay and can be expected to be busy again this evening. Southampton have knuckled down when they have needed to in recent weeks and I can see them poaching another win here.
Pelle to score and Southampton to win @9-4 Betfred
Southampton to win by one goal @5-2 Bet365
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