Frank cautious of Southampton threat ahead of Brentford trip

Thomas Frank refused to take Southampton’s struggles for granted as Brentford prepare to visit the Premier League’s bottom side on Saturday.

Southampton have managed just one win and six points in 19 games in the Premier League this season (W1 D3 L15) after Sunday’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.

That loss marked Ivan Juric’s second game in charge, though Brentford manager Frank is well aware of the threat that Southampton – who sacked Russell Martin last month – will pose at St. Mary’s Stadium.

“It’s a good team. I know they are bottom of the league but nothing is easy in the Premier League, we know that,” Frank said on Thursday.

“I have big respect for Southampton. We need to bring our ‘A’ game and be unbelievably focused but, if we are, I believe we can get the three points.”

Southampton are already some 10 points adrift of safety, though Brentford come into this game off the back of a 3-1 loss of their own to Arsenal on Wednesday.

“They will win games before the end of the season, we just need to make sure we have done our part to avoid that happening against us,” Frank added.

Winter work pic.twitter.com/2aa73hodfx

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 2, 2025

Juric insists his side are up for the fight as he aims to pull off an improbable escape from an immediate return to the Championship.

“They are really motivated and want to change this moment,” Juric said in his pre-match press conference.

“They know they need to be better than before and put more energy into being more clinical to win the game.”

Like Frank, Juric reserved praise for his opponents, despite them failing to win an away game yet in the 2024-25 season.

“Brentford are really good,” he added. “They have had their coach for a long time and you know what they want to do. Tactically, they are really good.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southampton – Tyler Dibling

Tyler Dibling has scored two Premier League goals this season for Southampton, a tally that makes him their joint top scorer.

Only one teenager has scored more times in a Premier League campaign for Southampton than the 18-year-old – Matt Oakley in 1996-97 (three).

Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring against Arsenal on Wednesday, starting the new year in similar fashion to his impressive 2024 showings.

Indeed, 33 of Brentford’s 52 Premier League goals in 2024 saw either Mbeumo or Yoasne Wissa involved in the goal (63%) – that pair have become a dream duo for Frank to work with.

@Bmbeumo19‘s 11th of the season tonight pic.twitter.com/ZiEHn5YcOI

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 1, 2025

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

The Opta supercomputer’s pre-match simulations struggled to split this pair, suggesting a draw – or narrow victory – is the most likely outcome on Saturday.

However, Brentford will fancy their chances here considering Southampton have lost each of their last four Premier League games against them, conceding three goals in three of those matches.

Brentford have also won their last three in a row against sides in the relegation zone, scoring five goals in each of their last two wins – a 5-1 win over Luton in April last season and a 5-3 victory versus Wolves in October this season.

It is by no means a foregone conclusion, though, given Brentford have lost 17 of their last 23 away Premier League matches (W3 D3).

Frank’s side are winless in all nine away games this season (D2 L7), too, with no side picking up fewer points on the road than Brentford’s two this top-flight campaign.

Saturday will still be a tough task for the hosts – they have lost their opening two Premier League matches under Juric, who could become the seventh Southampton boss to open with three straight league defeats.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Southampton win – 35.5%

Draw – 25.9%

Brentford win – 38.6%