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Wolverhampton vs. Southampton: Saints look to bounce back on the road

By Ryan Borowski

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Danny Ings of Southampton celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on September 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Danny Ings of Southampton celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on September 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /
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Coming off the back of a 3-0 drubbing at Anfield the Saints look to correct course with a positive result when they visit Wolves on Saturday.

Southampton are currently sitting 14th with only five points on the season. With another five points dropped from winning positions, questions are starting to creep up again about the team and if they can stay clear of relegation again. Mark Hughes will be feeling a little bit of pressure to rally the lads and produce at least a point against the Premier League newcomers.

With that said, Wolves are no pushovers and have started their Premier League campaign with nine points by way of positive results such as a draw at Old Trafford last week and an 0-1 win in the London Stadium two weeks prior. Saturday will be a real test for Saints and give fans a sign of where they are at this season as a team and what to expect moving forward.

Why Wolverhampton Will Win

The Wolves are a solid team through-and-through and came into the Premier League with one goal – that goal was to stay up and stay up comfortably. During the summer transfer window they spent an astonishing £66.38m (According to transfermarket.co.uk). For a newly promoted club that is a good chunk of change and so far it has paid off.

Sitting comfortably in 10th Wolverhampton do not fear a challenge and have shown they are willing to go out and get a result no matter who the opposition is. Southampton learned that lesson last year in the early rounds of the Carabao Cup when the then Championship side Wolves beat Southampton in St. Mary’s 2-1.

Despite having a mid-week clash with Leicester in the Carabao cup, fitness should not be a concern for the home side. They rested their better players and thus showing their intentions for this season are 100% on the league and finishing as high as possible. They believe this is a match they should take all three points in so do not expect them to sit back and let the match come to them.

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BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Mark Hughes, Manager of Southampton looks on prior to the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton at American Express Community Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Mark Hughes, Manager of Southampton looks on prior to the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton at American Express Community Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) /

Why Southampton Will Win

Presumably, with the return of Ings having not been able to face Liverpool, Hughes will return to a 4-4-2 formation on Saturday. This has been the formation of choice since the second half of the first match and has produced well enough.

With the main goal threat of Ings returning into the lineup, a better offensive performance should be expected. Typically the formation has seen the Englishman partner Long up top, but with the latter looking like he will miss the match due to injury many are wondering who will get the call to start alongside the leading goal-scorer.

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Gabbiadini or Austin? More than likely it will be Austin who Sparky goes with but many supporters are itching to see what Gabbiadini and Ings could do together if given a whole 90 minutes together.

Regardless of who starts up top the key to victory for the Saints will be with the wingers, Nathan Redmond and Mohamed Elyounoussi.

Neither have yet to find their way onto the scoresheet but if one or both can score on Saturday that will only spell success for Saints. More players need to get involved in the scoring instead of just the Liverpool loanee and the always entertaining Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and it is time for one of the two to step up.

Redmond has looked the more threatening of the two and would not be surprising if the Englishman is the one to get his scoring starting on Saturday. As is the theme every week, Southampton may very well open up the scoring but it is what they do the 10 mins after they score that will dictate the rest of the match.

Predicted Line-ups

Wolverhampton

Goalkeeper: Rui Patricio

Defenders: Ryan Bennet, Willy Boly, Conor Coady

Midfielders: Matt Doherty, Ruben Neves, Jonny, Joao Moutinho

Forwards: Raul Jimenez, Helder Costa, Diego Jota

Southampton

Goalkeeper: Alex McCarthy

Defenders: Cedric Soares, Jannik Vestergaard, Maya Yoshida, Ryan Bertrand

Midfielders: Mohamed Elyounoussi, Mario Lemina, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Nathan Redmond

Forwards: Danny Ings, Charlie Austin

Prediction

Wolverhampton 1-1 Southampton

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