Sunderland v Southampton Prediction 12th May 2013

Sunderland v Southampton Betting Preview
The pressure is still on these two a little bit. The Black Cats head into the weekend fixtures three points clear of the drop zone and the Saints just one point further ahead. Basically everyone is watching what Wigan does. If the Latics fail win either of their last two matches, then they will definitely be down. But the winner of this match will at least have the knowledge that they will be playing Premier League football next season for certain. In Sunderland’s case it would be a matter of goal difference keeping them up, if Wigan finished level on points with them.

Sunderland v Southampton Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet365
Sunderland 9/5, Southampton 9/5, Draw 11/5

Online bookmaker Promotion
Neither will really want to lose this one at this stage of the season. A point for each at the end of the day may be enough to just keep them afloat, given one of Wigan’s last two matches is at Arsenal. So it may be worth looking for some bet consolidation from online bookmaker Bet365. If the game ends goalless, then the highly rated Bet365 will refund all losing bets placed on the Correct Score, Scorecast and Half Time/Full Time markets. There is up to a £200 free bet available for new customers as well from the bookmaker when registering, as the bookmaker will match the value of your initial deposit with a free bet.

Sunderland v Southampton Recommended Bet:
The Black Cats are still scratching around for points, but they got a huge one in their last outing. A goal down at home and down to ten men against Stoke, could have left them reeling. But Paolo Di Canio’s men mustered up a great second half performance full of commitment and the ten men rescued a point as Stoke decided to settle and go all defensive. A valuable point that may be in the long run for the Black Cats. They are without a win in their last two now, but at least they are showing some fight, even it is patchy. The Black Cats were of course hammered 6-1 by Villa in the match before that. The fact that this one is at home and the crowd can get behind them, could be hugely important too, even though they have won just one of the last seven at the Stadium of Light. At home this season, Sunderland have posted a W5 D7 L6 record, having scored 19 and conceded 18 goals.

They beat Southampton 1-0 earlier in the season, snapping a run of four away games against the Saints in the top flight without a win. Sunderland haven’t won any of their last three home against Southampton either (D2 L1) so it may not be a foregone conclusion. Four of Southampton’s last five games have gone under 2.5 goals and that may afford a chance for the low scoring Sunderland to nick a home win. Sunderland’s last two goals in the Premier League have both been scored by defenders. They aren’t still lacking some high quality finishing, especially with Danny Graham going 944 minutes without a goal in all competitions. Southampton have a one point jump on Sunderland and know that a point would confirm their Premier League status next season, already being four points ahead of 18th placed Wigan. But the Saints are not in the greatest form at the moment, going without a win in their last four.

If they don’t get a point at least on Sunday, it will be the first time under Mauricio Pochettino that they will have lost three in a row. Worryingly, Southampton have now gone 301 minutes with a Premier League goal for themselves. Their away form isn’t all that but, just one loss in the last four. That came at White Hart Lane last weekend, when Gareth Bale sunk them in the final five minutes. On the road this season they have posted a W3 D6 L9 record. Striker Rickie Lambert has created the second highest amount of goalscoring chances from open play in the Premier League, second only to Luis Suarez.

The Saints are capable of some very nice football, but are lacking an edge at the moment. Home turf could just give Sunderland the edge to get the win they need in this one. Only by a narrow margin though and would consider a Sunderland 1-0 Correct Score for a price of 7/1 at online bookmaker Bet365.

Form
Sunderland LLWWLD, Southampton WWDDLL

Stat Attack
The Black Cats have scored less than two goals in seven of their last eight
Southampton are without a league goal in 301 minutes now
Sunderland haven’t won any of the last three EPL home games against the Saints
Four os Southampton’s last five games have gone under 2.5 goals