Southampton welcome Brentford to St Mary’s Stadium in a mid-table Premier League clash.
Victory would lift Southampton out of the relegation zone, whilst Brentford can go seventh if Brighton fail to win elsewhere.
Team News
Ainsley Maitland-Nile is a doubt for Southampton after he missed their goalless draw at Manchester United with a knock.
Valentino Livramento (muscle) and Juan Larios (adductor) both remain ruled out.
Brentford could be without Mads Roerslev after he missed their defeat at Everton due to a tight hamstring, and could face a late fitness test.
Thomas Strakosha (ankle) and Keane-Lewis Potter (knee) both remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Southampton host Brentford at St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday 15 March in a 7:30pm GMT kick-off,
This fixture will be untelevised in the UK due to originally not being selected for TV coverage prior to postponement in September, as mark of respect following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Stat Attack
- Southampton have won one of two previous Premier League meetings against Brentford (W1, L1).
- Brentford have lost their only previous Premier League visit to Southampton (L1) – losing 4-1 in January 2022.
- Both teams picked up one booking apiece across both meetings last season.
- Southampton have conceded just one goal in their last four league games (W2, D1, L1).
- Christian Norgaard has been booked in each of Brentford’s last two away matches.
Prediction
With this match representing Southampton’s only game in hand on their relegation rivals – who are yet to play their own catch-up games, the players do need to step up like they did at Man Utd and show more of their aggressive attacking intensity albeit with better finishing.
Brentford however won’t be easy opposition because Thomas Frank’s Bees hopefully will be fired up after seeing their 12-match unbeaten league run end at Everton, where they simply lacked their usual intensity in the first half which proved costly on top of poor finishing touches.
This match therefore feels like a game where it could be a cracker if both teams bring their best football, yet Southampton can’t afford to lose this game due to the tightness within the race for survival which could suit Brentford if they’re back to their clinical best.
A draw though feels like a fair bet given what is at stake for both teams because whilst the Saints are fighting to stay up, Brentford could do with a win to boost their hopes of European qualification meaning that the pressure is on for both clubs here.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Brentford
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