PREVIEW: Southampton vs Sunderland - How to watch, stat pack and referee
No points in five for Sunderland, but can they capitalise on a Southampton side who are looking shaky?
It looks like a big ask, but we all know how unpredictable the Championship can be, so you never really know.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the game.
The Opposition
After going on an unbeaten run of 22 games, Southampton have now lost three of their last six.
With defeats coming against Bristol City, Hull City and Millwall, Sunderland could in with a chance of nicking a point or three at St Mary’s.
However, Southampton have shown their ability to find a goal late on, in their game against Birmingham last weekend, the saints grabbed a winner in the 96th minute courtesy of Joe Aribo to secure a 4-3 victory over Birmingham.
The Gaffer
Russell Martin has made quite a name for himself in the second tier of English football with his possession-based style of football.
Martin started his managerial career at MK Don’s in November 2019, but his first season in charge was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his first full season in charge, MK Dons finished 13th in League One and the also recorded the highest average possession in the league with 64 percent, Sunderland were second that year, with 58 percent.
Martin then moved to Swansea in August 2021, one week before the start of the season.
He lost his first game in charge, a 2-1 away defeat to Blackburn. He became the first manager to complete the derby double in the South Wales derby as Swansea ran out 3-0 winners at home and 4-0 winners at Cardiff.
Swansea could only finish as high as 15th that season, despite some promising signs, it was ultimately a lack of consistency that held them back.
The following season, Swansea started slowly but by the end of October, were looking like real promotion contenders. A poor run of form during the middle of the season, which saw three wins in 20 matches and increasing frustrations between Martin and the fans with the ownership, left big question marks about his future.
A startling run of form at the end of the season saw Swansea go unbeaten in nine and also secure the South Wales Derby double again. This attracted interest from Southampton, who Martin ultimately joined in June 2023.
The Squad
Like the other two relegated sides, Southampton were able to keep quite a few of the players who featured for them in the Premier League as well as bring in some good talent as well.
The likes of Che Adams, former Newcastle player Adam Armstrong and Stuart Armstrong are a few of the players Southampton were able to hold onto. The trio have scored a combined 20 goals so far this season.
Southampton recruited well in the summer and January too, with Martin bringing in Irish left-back Ryan Manning in on a free from Swansea, Ryan Fraser on loan from Newcastle and Flynn Downes on loan from West Ham.
In January, he brought in Welsh international David Brooks and Joe Rothwell in on loan from Bournemouth.
Earlier this Season
Sunderland battered Southampton 5-0 earlier on this season at The Stadium of Light,
Jack Clarke opened the scoring after 52 seconds, stooping to head home a Trai Hume cross.
Pierre Ekwah soon made it 2-0 and then 3-0 just before the break. Bradley Dack opened his account with his first goal since joining the club in the summer and then 16-year-old Chris Rigg put the final nail in the coffin in injury time in the second half from a beautiful assist from Jewison Bennette.
Who is the Referee for Norwich vs Sunderland
A Premier League referee, Stuart Attwell, will take charge of the game at St Mary's, and that is not always a good thing.
There is a fear that Premier League officials have become too reliant on VAR in recent years, so it will be interesting to see if Attwell bucks that trend. Certainly, Premier League referees have not been kind of Sunderland this season so far.
Attwell also has some controversy on his record with regard Sunderland. In 2010, he allowed a highly controversial Liverpool goal at Anfield when he adjudged Michael Turner to have taken a free kick when he was merely rolling it back to his goalkeeper to take it instead.
The Game in Numbers
1 – Sunderland have lost all of their last five games by one goal
66.9 – Southampton’s average possession per game this season
232 – Sunderland have been awarded the join second most corners this season with Coventry
Southampton vs Sunderland Stat Pack
As per the EFL website:
Southampton have won just three of their last 13 league games against Sunderland (D6 L4), though one of those wins came as an 8-0 success at St. Mary’s Stadium in October 2014 – one of only five matches in which the Saints have scored 8+ goals across their league history.
Sunderland have won just five of their 28 away league games against Southampton (D7 L16), with three of the last four such meetings between the pair finishing 1-1.
Southampton have lost just one of their 11 home games played on a Saturday this season (W8 D2), winning six in a row before losing 2-1 to Millwall in their most recent such game last month.
Sunderland are winless across their last six away league games (D2 L4), losing the last three; the Black Cats last lost four in a row on the road in December 2019 in League One.
Since the beginning of last season Sunderland have lost four of their five league games that Jack Clarke has failed to start in (W1), scoring just four goals across those five matches.
How to watch Southampton vs Sunderland
Due to the 3pm blackout restrictions, Southampton vs Sunderland will not be broadcast live in the UK.
For international users and those with a VPN though, it is available to stream on SAFC Live.