Preview: Southampton vs. Sunderland - prediction, team news, lineups

At a time when the Saints sit in fourth position in the Championship standings, Sunderland are down in 11th place after five successive defeats.

Match preview

On Wednesday afternoon, Southampton had their St Mary's showdown with Preston North postponed just hours before the game due to a fire at a nearby industrial estate.

To some extent, Russell Martin may not have minded an extra few days to rest some tired legs, Southampton having been in FA Cup action the previous midweek.

However, it also prevented them from building on their thrilling 4-3 victory at Birmingham City last weekend, the Saints winning for just the second time in five games.

Albeit with a game in hand, Southampton are now eight points adrift of second place and 15 points clear of seventh spot, leaving them in a position where they may as well throw caution to the wind in search of the runners-up spot.

With Ipswich Town, who currently occupy that place, to come on April 1, Southampton are left to focus to trying to deliver home victories over Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

As far as Sunderland are concerned, their campaign has descended into somewhat of a mess, the Black Cats with their third head coach at the helm and losing five times in a row.

Appointing Michael Beale as a replacement for Tony Mowbray proved to be a disaster, and they have since lost three times with Mike Dodds in interim charge.

Now sitting 10 points adrift of the playoffs, Sunderland are almost at the point where they may as well start planning for next season, with at least eight wins likely required from their remaining 10 games to have any chance of promotion.

When just six triumphs and 11 defeats have been posted in their most recent 20 second-tier fixtures, it highlights the size of the task, particularly ahead of facing opponents who have won 11 of their 17 home fixtures in the league.

Southampton Championship form:

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Southampton form (all competitions):

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Sunderland Championship form:

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Team News

A week off may lead to Martin opting to make fewer changes than he had previously planned for the Preston game.

Joe Aribo and Samuel Edozie appear most likely to earn a recall in creative roles, particularly the former after his winning goal at Birmingham.

While Kyle Walker-Peters may return to the squad after injury, the defender could be restricted to a spot among the replacements.

Dodds will almost certainly tinker with his Sunderland side, even though the Black Cats continue to do without key man Jack Clarke through injury.

At least one of Romaine Mundle and Callum Styles should earn a start, while Nazarii Rusyn can expect to be selected down the middle of the attack.

With defender Luke O'Nien serving a suspension, Dodds must decide whether to stick with a back five or switch to a four.

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Bazunu; Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Bednarek, Manning; Aribo, Downes, S.Armstrong; Brooks, Armstrong, Adams

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; Hume, Seelt, Ballard, Hjelde; Ekwah, Neil; Mundle, Bellingham, Styles; Rusyn

We say: Southampton 3-1 Sunderland

Sunderland have reached a stage where they can probably throw caution to the wind and go all out for three points. However, Southampton may benefit from the unforeseen midweek break and could make relatively light work of their opponents who are devoid of confidence.

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