- Sunderland have struggled away from home in their last seven games (1-6-0)
- Saints’ new signing Pablo Osvaldo could make debut
- Only four goals scored in last three games between these two sides
Southampton and Sunderland square off at St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday (10am ET live on NBCSN, watch online via NBC Sports Live Extra) as two young, fiery, ambitious managers lock horns down on England’s South Coast.
The home side got their season off to the best possible start, as Mauricio Pochettino’s men beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 away from home on the opening day. Star striker Rickie Lambert scored the game-winner from the penalty spot in the final minute, as the Saints grabbed a deserved win after dominating play against the Baggies.
While for Sunderland it was the reverse, as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Fulham at the Stadium of Light. Eccentric Italian manager Paolo Di Canio wasn’t too impressed with his sides marking at set pieces and will expect a response in Week 2.
These two sides met at the very end of last season when both teams were still struggling against relegation. A 1-1 draw played out at the Stadium of Light in the penultimate game of the 2012-13 Premier League campaign.
Both Pochettino and Di Canio arrived in the final few months of last season and succeeded in keeping their respective clubs in the PL, but now they both want to push on. Sunderland beat Southampton 1-0 at St. Mary’s last season, and the long journey South will be made by over 3,000 traveling Sunderland fans.
(MORE: Week 1, Premier League Power Rankings; Don’t doubt the Champions)
Southampton have spent almost $55 million this summer on Victor Wanyama, Dejan Lovren and new club record signing Pablo Osvaldo, who is pushing for his debut. The Saints are the third highest spenders in the league and are aiming to push into the top 10 after consolidating their spot in the top flight last time out.
Di Canio hasn’t spent that much, but he’s brought in 11 new faces to shake things up at Sunderland. It will take time for the Black Cats to gel and USMNT striker Jozy Altidore may have to be patient before the chances arrive. Altidore’s movement was sharp last weekend, but the service was lacking.
Perhaps he can bully Saints’ defense? Scottish international Steven Fletcher is still sidelined, while Lee Cattermole and Phil Bardsley are also out for the Mackems. The Saints’ only doubt is right back Nathaniel Clyne, with 18-year-old academy prospect Calum Chambers set to start again.
Watch how the USA’s main man gets on against a talented Southampton side on Saturday, at 10am ET live on NBC Sports Network and online via NBC Sports Live Extra.
What they’re saying
Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino: “I can’t really comment on what other teams do, but we are aware that we are going to face a rival that lost their first game against Fulham in their own stadium so they will be up and ready to get going with a result from their second game. We just want to corroborate what we did in the first game against West Bromwich. We played well away, and we just want to carry on and get another victory in our next game which is at home.”
Southampton defender Jose Fonte on Sunderland: “I think it’s going to be a very hard game actually, because I saw the highlights of them against Fulham and they looked very good to me, very lively. They created chances, they were a bit unlucky in my opinion, and this is going to be a massive game on Saturday. It will be an exciting game too I hope, and we need to be ready for it. I don’t think the score showed how well they played and how many chances they created they looked to me like they were the strongest team so I expect a very hard game on Saturday, but I’m confident that we can do the job.”
Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio on Southampton: “In my opinion they have built since last year and have a good future. The club has been run very well. The arrival of Pochettino brought in a new way to think about football, to play football. And I like the way they play. If you think already they had a good base, we know the players they have Lambert, Lallana, Fonte at the back, the players they’ve added in the past few months gives you a picture of what they can do in the next few years. They will have a good future, in my opinion for the quality that they have and the options they have and the way they play, they have to easily finish top 10.”
Prediction
Southampton are looking good this season but Sunderland are a tough, tough outfit to play against. Fulham’s win against the Black Cats last weekend was a ‘smash and grab’ and Di Canio will want a reaction. I can see this one being a tense draw with both teams battling it out in the middle of the pitch at St. Mary’s.
