Southampton V Walsall
Saturday, 27th February – 15:00 GMT (English League One)
Matt’s Tip: Southampton to WIN – 1.67 Ladbrokes
Alternatives: Southampton to WIN by 1 Goal – 3.50 SkyBet
Under 2.5 Goals – 1.87 Expekt
A Southampton team desperate to finish in the play-off spots go head-to-head with a fellow play-off chasing side in Walsall this Saturday at St. Mary’s. The side situated most Southern of the two, Southampton, are the bookies favourites to win Saturday’s clash (1.67 Ladbrokes), while a Walsall victory (6.00 Bet365), one that would be a turn up for the books, isn’t being contemplated by the sly bookmakers. We would have to go along with their viewpoint and say Southampton should win this fixture but not as easily as the bookies are making out.
The Saints look a very good bet on paper when you consider they boast one of the stronger home records in League One. The likes of Leeds United & Millwall set the standard in terms of having a glistening record at home in the league, but Alan Pardew’s Southampton aren’t far behind and would actually be right up their if it wasn’t for those two home blips against Bristol Rovers & Brighton. However, since losing to Brighton 3-1 back in November, a little over three months ago, Southampton have gone five games without defeat at St. Mary’s, recording vital wins in four of them. In fact, Southampton are on a four match winning streak at St. Mary’s having beaten Wycombe, Tranmere, Exeter City & Stockport County. Of course, all four wins were against sides in the lower reaches of the table but Southampton have made light work of their easy opponents, with three of the four being to NIL, and so every area of the Southampton squad will be full of confidence under the ray of this winning home streak.
Their opponents, Walsall, have become partial to a bit of shock treatment of late and boldly boast impressive and audacious victories over Leeds United & Bristol Rover, of which both were in away fixtures. There were but only a few that would have done them to beat a usually strong Bristol Rovers at home, with The Saddler’s winning 1-0, while they shocked the country when winning 2-1 at Elland Road against the former leaders of the league Leeds United. I heard they were more than worthy winners in that contest, and so merit plenty of respect. However, they only briefly built upon that euphoric result as straight after they went on to beat Brentford 2-1 at home before making a brisk return to their inconsistent and unreliable selves by losing 1-0 at home to a modest Yeovil Town
Backing against Walsall on the road is a dangerous thing as they’ve been a side which can turn up and give any side a fright. Their six away wins from fifteen outings highlights this but they aren’t the most reliable of teams and have been known to falter away at the league’s big boys. Despite earning impressive victories over Bristol Rovers & Leeds United in recent weeks, Walsall have already fallen to defeats at Charlton Athletic, MK Dons & Colchester United, which just goes to show that while they can produce the goods on any given day, their day doesn’t always arrive.
Southampton, however, are very consistent, although this will be their toughest home assignment for quite some time. They are, though, very tidy at home having conceded just one goal in their last four home fixtures, and we’re banking on more of the same as Alan Pardew’s Saints go marching in on the play-ff spots. Well, making in-roads on them anyhow. However, we don’t think this will be a walk in the park for Southampton as we expect this to be a good, tight contest between two sides with very similar aspirations. We fancy Southampton, but feel this could be settled by the odd goal.
Tip Result: WON @ 1.67
