- Sunderland have lost their last five Championship matches
- Seven of Southampton's last eight games have gone over 2.5 goals
- Recommended bet: Southampton and over 2.5 goals

A fire outside St Mary's meant that Southampton's midweek match against Preston was postponed so a fresh home team will face a Sunderland side who have been in dreadful form recently.

The visitors have gone from bad to worse under interim manager Mike Dodds and an extensive injury list is not helping matters.

Team news

A week off means that Southampton may opt for fewer changes than if they had played against Preston in midweek.

Kyle Walker-Peters could return but may have to settle for a place on the bench as he is eased back into the team following a muscle injury.

The Saints will be without Ross Stewart, Ryan Fraser and Juan Larios for this clash.

Luke O'Nien is suspended for Southampton, joining injury absentees Patrick Roberts, Jack Clarke, Dennis Crikin, Niall Huggins and Elliot Embleton.

Corry Evans, Bradley Dack and Aji Alese have returned to training but this game may come too soon for them.

The stats

Defence has been an issue for Sunderland recently, they have conceded in their last 11 games.

The last two meetings between these two have been high-scoring affairs, producing nine goals between them. 

Sunderland have been in poor form, losing 11 of their last 20 Championship games.

The Black Cats have also lost nine of their 18 away matches in the second tier this season.

Prediction

Defeats in their last five Championship games have all but extinguished any hopes Sunderland had of a play-off finish and they face a tough task visiting Southampton in this matchup.

The Saints have been one of the four runaway leaders at the top of the table but three defeats from their last five matches have left them vulnerable in the race for automatic promotion.

Russell Martin's side need a victory here to try to bridge the gap between them and the other three teams and they should be able to take advantage of the poor form of their visitors.

A postponed midweek game also means that the home team will be freshened up for this affair while Sunderland suffered their fifth successive defeat by a single goal against Leicester.

Seven of Southampton's last eight games have produced three or more goals and the same is fancied in a home win. 

Back Southampton and over 2.5 goals at 10/11 with LiveScore Bet

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