On Saturday, Mauricio Pochettino’s Southampton team welcome Norwich City to The St Mary’s Stadium. Southampton are looking to follow up their 1-0 away victory at Crystal Palace with what would be only their sixth home win of this season so far. Overall, their last 5 games have resulted in 2 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw. Right now, they are sitting in 9th place on 42 points. Norwich City on the other hand come to St Mary’s on the back of  a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road against Stoke City. Their last away game saw them humiliated by Aston Villa 4-1. Norwich have only managed 1 win away from home this season and only 7 wins in total. They currently sit in 15th place and only 4 points above the relegation zone.
Match Facts
Southampton have won just one of their last eight Barclays Premier League home matches (W1 D3 L4).
Norwich City have lost eight of their last 11 Barclays Premier League away games (W1 D2 L8) including the last four in a row.
Four of Southampton’s five goals in their last five Premier League games have come before half-time.
Norwich have lost all 10 Premier League away games in which they’ve trailed in this season.
Team News
Southampton have a relatively healthy first team squad to choose from. Their only injury concerns are Jack Cork (Ankle), Kelvin Davis (muscle injury) and Jos Hooiveld (eye). Gaston Ramirez is pushing for a recall to the starting XI after an impressive substitute performance in the home defeat to Liverpool recently.
Norwich City are hoping that Michael Turner can return for this game and he is expected to have a late fitness test ahead of the match. They are definitely without Elliott Bennett (Knee), Leroy Fer (Hamstring) and Jonas Gutierrez ( calf).
Key Men
Adam Lallana has been a key player this season for Southampton. He has developed into an England international and will surely be part of Roy Hodgson’s 23 man World Cup squad at the end of the campaign.
Lallana has been extremely creative for the Saints: he has 5 goal assists, creates a chance every 44 minutes and has attempted 103 dribbles.
Add into that 7 goals and you can see how effective he has been and why a lot of the bigger clubs are looking at him.
Wes Hoolahan has endured a frustrating season so far for Norwich with only 7 league starts, however, he is by far their most creative player. A true No 10, Hoolahan has also impressed for the Republic of Ireland in their recently friendly games.
Hoolahan has created 7 chances in his 7 games and has also weighed in with 1 goal. When he is on form, Norwich are an extremely dangerous attacking threat.
Match Prediction
Surprisingly, 5 of the last 7 meetings between these teams have ended in draws. Norwich City are certainly more in need of the points as they try to avoid relegation.
Rumours of Chris Houghton being under pressure refuse to go away and a defeat could see him lose his job.
My prediction is a home win. With both Rodriguez and Lambert to get on the score sheet in a 3-1 home win.
