2023-24 Sky Bet Championship: Week 36 – Wednesday

Southampton welcome Preston to St Mary’s Stadium in a huge Championship clash.

Victory would see Southampton stay fourth but move to within three points of third-placed Leeds, whilst Preston can go seventh if Norwich lose elsewhere.

Team News

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Southampton have no fresh injury concerns to report after their win at Birmingham City last weekend.

Kyle Walker-Peters (muscle), Ryan Fraser (knee), Juan Larios and Ross Stewart (both hamstring) remain absent.

Preston also have no fresh injury concerns to report after their goalless draw against Hull, as Brad Potts (hamstring) and Ched Evans (knee) remain absent.

When is Kick-Off?

Southampton face Preston at St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday 6 March at 7:45pm GMT, ….. in the UK.

Stat Attack

• Southampton have won two of their last nine league meetings against Preston (W2, D4, L3).
• Preston have won one of their last six league visits to Southampton (W1, D2, L3).
• Southampton have conceded in seven of their last eight home matches against Preston in all competitions.
• Russell Martin’s Saints have conceded first in each of their last three home matches (W1, L2).
• Emil Riis Jakobsen has scored in each of Preston’s last two away matches (W2).

Prediction

Currently stuttering at a time when they really should of taken wins whilst their promotion rivals slipped up, Southampton really need to cut out their sloppy defending because they clearly have the attacking quality to be winning yet have allowed silly mistakes to creep in and were lucky to beat Birmingham.

Preston meanwhile are unbeaten in their last seven games and managed a clean sheet in their draw against Hull which has to give them some extra confidence that they can quieten Southampton, although they clearly do have the attacking quality needed to match the Saints if there are goals.

I therefore do expect this game to be fairly close and a draw might well be a fair outcome given the form of both teams, although a win is imperative to both teams realistically given Tuesday’s results.

Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Preston