- Preston have lost all four of their visits to the current top-six
- Southampton have won 11 of their 17 home matches in the Championship
- Recommended bet: Southampton to win and both teams to score @ 6/4

Southampton returned to form at the weekend, twice coming back from behind in a 4-3 win at Birmingham. That fightback helped the Saints avoid a fourth-consecutive loss and they can secure another win despite the good form of visitors Preston.

Team news

Southampton have no new injury worries, so they could name an unchanged side from their victory at Birmingham. The Saints are missing four players once again, with Kyle Walker-Peters, Ross Stewart and Ryan Fraser among them.

Preston are hopeful that Kian Best can feature in this clash, but they’ll be without Brad Potts for this trip. 

The stats

The Saints have won 10 of 14 clashes at home to sides below them this season and have also averaged 2.4 goals at St. Mary's.

Both teams have scored in five of Southampton’s last six which could be a good omen for Preston who have scored in each of their last four away trips.

However, Preston have scored exactly once in six of their 17 league trips this season and have lost two of their last three meetings with the Saints, drawing the other.

Prediction

Southampton may view this as a real test, having lost their last two at home. Preston are unbeaten in seven, making them a threat at St Mary’s. However, North End have struggled against the league’s top teams this season and that may spell the end of their unbeaten stretch.

The visitors have lost each of their four visits to sides in the top six this term, while they’ve also suffered defeats in tricky visits to Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Swansea. They head to a Southampton side who have won 10 of their 14 home games against sides below them, while they’ve won two of the last three meetings between the two sides.

The Saints should have a massive confidence boost following their seven-goal thriller at the weekend. The hosts are certainly not short on attacking talent and they’ve scored 2.4 goals per game at St Mary’s this season. While their defensive record has been shaky of late, you’d back the hosts to win an open game.

Preston are a side making a late push to get into the top six. However, their meetings with the best sides in the Championship suggest they’re a rung or two below the automatic promotion chasers.

The visitors have scored exactly once in a third of their trips and while they may breach the Saints, that’s likely the limit for them. Southampton can build on their weekend win, but the best value lies in them winning a high-scoring game. 

Back Southampton to win and both teams to score @ 6/4 with LiveScore Bet

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