Ronald Koeman’s Southampton face a home clash with Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, after slipping out of the Premier League’s top-four in recent weeks
Southampton have been this season’s surprise package in the Premier League.
For much of the season the men from the south coast have occupied a place in the top four of the Premier League table.
However, Ronald Koeman’s men now sit sixth in the Premier League table, after a 1-0 weekend defeat at relegation-threatened West Brom. The Saints are now four points behind fourth-place Manchester United.
Southampton host Crystal Palace on Tuesday night at St Marys in what could be a vital game in the Saints season.
Goals
A lack of goals is the Saints main worry at the moment. The Saints have failed to score in four out of their last five Premier League games and scored just once in the other game.
The lack of goals from Italian striker Graziano Pelle is the main issue for Koeman’s side.
The former-Feyenoord striker made a decent start to the campaign and has scored eight goals in the Premier League for the Saints and 13 in all competitions this season. However, he has not scored in his last ten top-flight appearances, with his last goal coming in December against Everton.
Pelle has missed some big chances in that period of time and has struggled to re-capture his goalscoring touch. The Saints are not overly blessed with central strikers, but the likes of Shane Long and Eljero Elia are both capable of playing up front and are pushing the Italian for a starting spot against Palace.
Home
At the start of the season St Marys was considered a ground that was difficult to visit, but the Saints have now picked-up just two home wins in their last eight top-flight games on home soil and suffered four defeats.
Koeman’s side have also failed to find the net in their last three games at St Marys, which is concerning considering the side from the south coast are challenging for a Champions League spot.
A positive for the Saints to take ahead of Tuesday’s game is the fact that in 11 Premier League meetings Palace have never beaten the men from the south coast. However, the Eagles did defeat the Saints 3-2 in the FA Cup in January at St Marys.
Dangerous
Crystal Palace have been rejuvenated by former-Southampton boss Alan Pardew. The Eagles have moved up to 12th place in the Premier League table and are now eight points clear of the relegation zone.
They are currently a very dangerous opponent, especially away from home as they have now won their last three away games in the Premier League. In contrast to their home form, which has saw Pardew’s side lose three out of their last four top-flight games on home soil.
As Palace proved in their last outing at West Ham they seem full of confidence in their away games and will be travelling to the south coast looking for another away victory.
Palace have suffered just two Premier League defeats in their nine games under Alan Pardew and will not be easy opponents for the Saints.
Doubts
At the start of the campaign Southampton were being tagged as potential relegation candidates and a team that were likely to struggle after losing a number of key personnel over the summer.
Despite their impressive form at times this season, there have always been doubts about their ability to maintain their position in the top four of the Premier League table. This tough period of the campaign is likely to test the Saints to the fullest.
If they can get back to winning ways then Koeman’s side will still be well in the race for the top four places in the top-flight. They certainly cannot be written-off at this stage of the campaign, considering they are so close to the top four positions.
Odds
A victory in this clash will be vital if the Saints are to maintain their push for a Champions league spot this season. Anything other than a win could make it very difficult for Koeman’s men to get themselves back into those top four positions.
Are Southampton’s chances of a top four finish slipping away?
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