Saints Marching
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Southampton Legend Weighs In On Sunderland Showdown

By Aaron Preston

SOUTHAMPTON - FEBRUARY 1: Ryan Giggs of Manchester United is challenged by Francis Benali of Southampton during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England on February 1, 2003. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON - FEBRUARY 1: Ryan Giggs of Manchester United is challenged by Francis Benali of Southampton during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England on February 1, 2003. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) /
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Southampton legend Franny Benali has told the club not to expect an easy match against David Moyes’ Black Cats, whom they face at St. Mary’s Saturday.

Benali, who was in attendance during the club’s 2-0 loss to Manchester United last week, gave the remarks to club media yesterday.

In his remarks, the former Southampton full-back, who spent nearly two decades with the club, stated that he had watched Sunderland’s latest performance against Middlesbrough and called the North East club’s performance “spirited,” even in defeat.

“They [Sunderland] battled and worked extremely hard,” Benali said of the Black Cats, who fell 2-1 to their local rivals at home in the Stadium of Light last week.

“Certainly the way they approached the game, their attitude and their commitment to the second half in particular means there’s good signs there that they will fight for every point they can get this season,” the former Saint added.

Fighting for every point is especially important as a potential relegation target, as Sunderland now find themselves. For Southampton, though, the task is no less important given a slow start to the season.

The Saints currently find themselves sitting 16th in the League table after an opening-day draw to Watford and a 2-0 away loss to Manchester United. While it’s only Matchday 3, a win over a beatable Sunderland ahead of the first international break will no doubt do wonders for club and fan morale.

In order to make that a reality, though, the Saints will have to overcome an odd run of history that may play to the Black Cats’ favour: the opposition’s manager. In fourteen years, Southampton have not beaten a team managed by David Moyes.

Benali was on the first team but not listed in that game, a 1-0 win at the then-new St. Mary’s Stadium sealed on the heel of a Marians Pahars penalty. Since that time, Southampton’s record against Moyes has been a dismal 3 losses and 5 draws.

Next: Preview: Southampton vs. Sunderland

Against Sunderland, the record is slightly better. In the last ten Premier League outings against the Black Cats, the Saints have won 4, lost 2 and drawn 4. Most memorable among these for Saints fans was a 2014 outing which saw the club demolish the Wearsiders 8-0, a record in the club’s Premier League history.

But as they say, the system has no memory, and yesterday’s victories mean nothing to the present task at hand. As Claude Puel stares up from an early hole in the points, he might do well to heed the words of an old Saint.