Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Southamptonvs.Ipswich

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 September 2024, 22:45
Two newly-promoted Premier League teams square off at St Mary's on Saturday afternoon as Southampton play host to Ipswich Town.

While the Tractor Boys secured automatic promotion from the Championship last season, the Saints bounced back to the top flight at the first attempt courtesy of a playoff final triumph over Leeds United.

Match preview

Southampton are one of only two teams along with Everton who are yet to pick up a single point after four matches in the Premier League this season, most recently losing 3-0 at home to Manchester United last weekend.

However, the Saints supporters were given something to cheer about in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, as Russell Martin's men edged themselves beyond the third round with a 6-5 penalty-shootout victory over Everton at Goodison Park following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.

After Taylor Harwood-Bellis cancelled out Abdoulaye Doucoure's opener in normal time, goalkeeper Alex McCarthy became Southampton's hero on his 150th appearance for the club, as he made the decisive save in the penalty shootout, thwarting Ashley Young to send the Saints marching into the fourth round for the fifth time in seven seasons.

Martin, who has been under some pressure to grind out positive results, is "so excited about what is to come" from his Southampton players and believes that claiming their first Premier League win of the season will allow everyone at the club to "relax".

With fixtures against Ipswich, Bournemouth and Leicester City in the coming weeks, Southampton will hope that their first victory is not too far around the corner, but success on Saturday is not a given as they have failed to win any of their previous three home meetings with Ipswich, including a narrow 1-0 loss in the Championship last season.

Ipswich began their first Premier League campaign in 22 years with back-to-back defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City, before losing on penalties to League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup, but they have since picked up two points from draws with Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion either side of the international break.

The Tractor Boys followed up a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham with a goalless stalemate with Brighton at the Amex Stadium last weekend, with goalkeeper Arijanet Muric producing six saves in a man-of-the-match display for the visitors.

Liam Delap came closest to scoring for Ipswich when he smacked the outside of the post in the second half, with head coach Kieran McKenna stating after the match that scoring in successive games - having previously netted against Fulham - would have been "legendary" for the 21-year-old summer signing.

Nevertheless, McKenna was pleased with the overall spirit of his Ipswich side and how resolute they were from a defensive perspective, and similar performances will be required if they wish to avoid the drop this term.

Ipswich will be confident of success on Saturday as they have won more Premier League games against Southampton (five) than they have versus any other club, while they did the double over the Saints in the Championship last season, winning by an aggregate score of 4-2.

Southampton Premier League form:

L

L

L

L

Southampton form (all competitions):

L

L

W

L

L

W

Ipswich Town Premier League form:

L

L

D

D

Ipswich Town form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

D

D

Team News

Southampton are still having to cope without long-term absentee Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), while winger Kamaldeen Sulemana (ankle) and midfielder Will Smallbone (hamstring) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Jack Stephens will serve the second of a three-match ban after his straight red card last weekend, so Taylor Harwood-Bellis is set to play at centre-back alongside Jan Bednarek, with Yukinari Sugawara and Kyle Walker-Peters operating as full-backs.

Flynn Downes and 18-year-old Tyler Dibling could both be recalled at the expense of Adam Lallana and Maxwel Cornet, while Martin will weigh up whether to start either Cameron Archer or Adam Armstrong in attack with Ben Brereton Diaz.

As for Ipswich, McKenna has revealed that he has "pretty much everyone" fit and available for selection on Saturday, although some players have been managing "knocks and niggles" this week.

A back four of Axel Tuanzebe, Dara O'Shea, Jacob Greaves and Leif Davis is set to remain intact, while Kalvin Phillips and Sam Morsy should continue to link arms in centre-midfield.

If McKenna wishes to freshen up his attack, then he may consider handing either Chiedozie Ogbene or Jack Clarke a start on either flank, although Wes Burns and Sammie Szmodics could continue in the first XI.

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Ramsdale; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Downes, Ugochukwu; Dibling, Fernandes; Brereton Diaz, Archer

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Muric; Tuanzebe, O'Hara, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Clarke, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap

We say: Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town

Both Southampton and Ipswich will view Saturday's fixture as a good opportunity to collect their first three points of the season. The Tractor Boys arguably boast the psychological edge after doing the double over the Saints last season, but we feel that the hosts will find a way to claim at least a point at St Mary's on this occasion.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.