Unavailable:
Southampton – Gardoş, Rodriguez, Wanyama, Austin, Long
Sunderland
– Cattermole, Watmore, Lens
When asked about last season’s 8-0 mauling of
Sunderland at St Mary’s by the club’s in-house media, Ronald Koeman responded
by stating that his side will face a sterner test on Saturday. Well, you’re not
wrong Ronald. That implosion from the Black Cats on the South Coast was as lacklustre
a display as you’re going to see in the Premier League – from anyone. Even the
Sunderland side of 2005-06, who grabbed an embarrassing tally of 15 points
would have given that side a run for its money – poor Kelvin Davis is still
probably reaching for a nightlight every time he thinks about that season in
the wee hours, given that he was tasked with unenviable challenge of trying to
save that team.
No, this will be a very different occasion.
There will be no Gus Poyet in the away dugout. No Dick Advocaat who also
departed after a mere six months or so in the North East. It will be Sam
Allardyce stood in his technical area, barking out orders so vociferously that
he may well spit his chewing gum into the Kingsland. When Southampton narrowly edged
Sunderland out at the Stadium of Light in early November, the former Bolton
boss’ work had only just commenced. Four months down the line and the Black
Cats are a different outfit – professional and primed to escape the drop once
again. More than anything else, they seem to have discovered a key element of
bite in their game – not the illegal kind that Lee Cattermole seems so delighted
to unapologetically administer, but the type that asks a question of the often
higher-placed opposition that knocks off them off their perch, and onto a level
playing field with the Black Cats.
It is a fate that Southampton know about all
too well after an evening of trauma at Dean Court, leading to a witty retort
from the home crowd that Saints resembled Pompey. While it was certainly not that bad, it heavily echoed the
Midtjylland defeat, and Koeman freely acknowledged that he had wrongly placed
his faith in a style that was too gung-ho. The midfield was simply flattened by
Harry Arter and Andrew Surman, leaving Bournemouth with ample opportunity to
fire the ball into the box. Even when Steven Davis came on, Saints struggled to
get their foot on the ball with James Ward-Prowse having one of his ineffective
days, and the front three wandering aimlessly due to a distinct lack of
service.
It was a disappointing, disjointed display,
and Koeman will have to consider that midfield battle once more. Jordy Clasie
should return to the fold to partner Oriol Romeu to reprise his role as little
terrier in the engine room, while Steven Davis will also probably get the nod to
restore some fluidity to the team. Whoever triumphs in the centre of the park
could well emerge as the victor, and it may be as much a battle of steel as
anything else.
Key
Battles
Soares
v Khazri: Wahbi
Khazri will not be the man to continuously dust his studs with chalk, as he is
most certainly not a traditional winger. While Cédric Soares was continuously bombarded
by left-back Charlie Daniels who would race to the byline at any opportunity
the other night, the Tunisian is a different proposition. He will jink, and
attempt every trick in the book to bamboozle the right-back to his core, and
the Portuguese will have to be prepared as the attacker has a keen eye for a
clever reverse pass. While at Bordeaux, he was a shining light in a distinctly
average side, and he should be watched carefully by Soares. He must be cautious
if he embarks on his trademark lung busting runs up the right channel.
Pellè v
Koné: Another
import from Ligue 1, the centre-back has performed well in spite of naysayers’
doubt regarding a lack of Premier League nous in a relegation scrap. Since he
has sat alongside John O’Shea, his new side have not haemorrhaged goals as they
did previously. He should have an interesting clash with the returning Graziano
Pellè who will have an opportunity due to the absence of both Charlie Austin
and Shane Long. The Italian’s hold-up play has not been of the required
standard in recent appearances, and he will need to spearhead the side well if
Saints are to regain momentum in the battle for a Europa League spot.
Possible
Line-ups
Southampton:
Forster
– Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte (C), Bertrand, Targett – Romeu, Clasie, S. Davis –
Tadić – Pellè
Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Mané, Martina,
Ward-Prowse, Reed, Juanmi
Sunderland:
Mannone
– Yedlin, Koné, Kaboul, Van Aanholt – Kirchoff – N’Doye, M’Vila, Rodwell,
Khazri – Defoe
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