Southampton vs Burnley: Premier League match preview

Both sides with nothing to lose but all to gain as we approach the season’s climax

At the start of the season, nobody would have given either of these sides much of a prayer of achieving the respective goals that they will be hoping to achieve come May. With Southampton’s squad having been raided, some even tipped them to fall through the trapdoor into the Championship. The fact that they are in the hunt for a Champions League berth is testament to the club’s selection policy and Ronald Koeman’s fine management skills.

When Burnley failed to win any of their opening nine Premier League games, many suspected that they might take Derby County’s ‘crown’ as the worst ever team to grace the top-flight. Their shock win over Manchester City last weekend has elevated Sean Dyche’s men to within a point of survival, and they will be looking to record a surprise league double over Saints following a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor in December.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm.

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

Burnley (Barnes) 1-0 Southampton, Premier League, December 2014

Southampton (Clyne, Lambert, Rodriguez, Lallana) 4-3 Burnley (Vokges, Ings, Long), FA Cup, January 2014

Southampton (Lallana, Sharp) 2-0 Burnley, Championship, February 2012

ODDS: Southampton 5/11 Draw 7/2 Burnley 15/2

STATS...

Fraser Forster has kept the most amount of clean sheets in the league this season with 13.

Southampton have not scored two goals in a league game since a 2-1 victory at Newcastle on January 17.

Danny Ings has failed to find the back of the net in his last 438 minutes of football.

CLASSIC MATCH...

Southampton 4-3 Burnley - 2014

Jay Rodriguez helped to knock his former club out of the FA Cup by scoring to put the Saints 3-2 up. Adam Lallana added a fourth for the hosts moments later before Burnley rallied late to pull one back through Sam Vokes. Mauricio Pochettino’s men held on to record their fifth home victory of the season.

TV: MOTD - BBC1 - 10.20pm