Tag Archives: Saints

Whites to stun Saints

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There are five Capital One Cup fourth round games on Tuesday night with Reading versus Arsenal the one match chosen for TV coverage on SKY. Here we preview the other four games taking place across the country (match prices).

Leeds v Southampton

Leeds (6/4 to win) were impressive in despatching an in-form Everton at Elland Road in the last round however they have faltered since that night. Neil Warnock’s side have won only one of their last five Championship matches – though defeat to Birmingham last time out was their first loss in eight in all competitions.

The trio of Lee Peltier, Rodolph Austin and Michael Tonge all face fitness tests, while Leeds will be without Ryan Hall as he is ineligible having featured for Southend earlier in the competition.

Southampton (7/4 to win, draw 12/5) are making the trip to West Yorkshire having lost to Tottenham at the weekend, which was their seventh defeat in nine games. The Saints will take heart from the fact they controlled the second half and should have really taken something from the game.

Forward Tadanari Lee is in contention to play at Elland Road having recovered from an elbow injury, while Frazer Richardson is back and could play against his former club. The Saints have lost all four games on the road and if Leeds can reproduce the form at Elland Road they showed against Everton it could be a long evening for Southampton.

Sunderland v Middlesbrough

It’s a north-east derby at the Stadium of Light and Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill seems set to make changes following their goalless draw with Stoke at the weekend. The Black Cats have struggled for goals so far this season, with six draws and only one win from their opening eight league games.

Middlesbrough will be full of confidence as they have won four games on the trot and climbed the Championship table. Merouane Zemmama is back from a hamstring problem but Jonathan Woodgate and Marvin Emnes face late fitness tests.

Boro have won their first three rounds away from the Riverside and could have enough to defeat a depleted Sunderland in a feisty derby encounter (Sunderland 4/6, draw 13/5, Middlesbrough 9/2).

Swindon v Aston Villa

Swindon could fancy their chances of shocking Premier League side Aston Villa, who have only won one league game so far this season and scored only seven goals. Paolo Di Canio’s side beat second-placed Stevenage 4-0 away at the weekend, ending their opponent’s 18-match unbeaten home run. Swindon can county Premier League Stoke and two Championship sides among their Capital One Cup victims already this season.

Villa did shock Manchester City in the last round of the Capital One Cup but confidence remains low around the club and, in total, its only two wins in 25 league games. Swindon have scored at least three goals in all their League Cup ties this season and, given their opponents leaky defence, Di Canio will fancy goals at the County Ground (Swindon 12/5, draw 12/5, Villa 11/10).

Wigan v Bradford

Wigan (2/7 to win) got their first home win of the season against West Ham at the weekend and Roberto Martinez will hope that confidence boost will see them through against Bradford. The League Two side are the lowest-ranked club left in the cup and went down 1-0 to Burton Albion on Saturday.

Martinez is likely to turn to Mauro Boselli, who has got three Capital One Cup games this season and bagged a hat-trick in the reserves. Bradford’s loss at Burton was their fourth away defeat, and it would require a huge effort to pull off a shock at the DW Stadium.

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Hoops to run rings round Saints

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Celtic may have already wrapped up the Scottish Premier League title this season but plenty of Bhoys players will be looking to earn a place in Neil Lennon’s plans for the future, when they host St Johnstone on Thursday (Celtic 1/3, draw 4/1, St Johnstone 8/1).

Nothing will give a Celtic squad more pleasure or more confidence than a win over their Old Firm rivals Rangers – and the fact it was a 3-0 victory on home soil in their last outing – will guarantee a buoyant mood in the Hoops camp.

It’s been a long time since Celtic enjoyed a decent run in the Champions League and Lennon’s main focus now will be on strengthening his squad to challenge for the group stages of the top European competition.

That means the current crop of players will have to prove themselves before the end of the current campaign and expect the Scottish champions to be on their metal when they host St Johnstone, despite the title already being in the bag.

Striker Gary Hooper (5/2 first goalscorer) is just one goal away from 20 in the SPL this term and he will be determined to reach the landmark in what has been a fine season for the Englishman, who has been linked with a move south of the border to the Premier League.

However, it looks like the forward, who is still just 24-years-old, wants to stay with the Bhoys to make his mark in the Champions League next season.

St Johnstone will be fully aware of the threat posed by the former Scunthorpe United man but based on their last outing, they might not have the ability to stop him.

Despite sitting in fifth place in the table, Saints have gone four games in the SPL without a win and were thumped 5-1 by a rampant Motherwell at Fir Park last weekend.

The Perthshire outfit have not won a game since they beat Inverness back at the end of March, in what has been a barren spell for manager Steve Lomas and his side.

Despite the poor run of form in the league, Saints are still just three points off a top-four finish, though, and will be looking to pull off a major scalp against the champions on Thursday night.

Francisco Sandaza has been a big loss for Lomas recently following off-field issues and the Spaniard, who is by far the club’s leading goalscorer this season with 17 in 32 appearances, is unlikely to feature against Celtic.

With their limited attacking options and their less-than-convincing defensive display against Motherwell last weekend, it’s hard to see St Johnstone getting anything out of this game in their bid to close down the gap on Dundee United in fourth.

Expect Celtic to bang in the goals, then, and it would be a brave person to go against Hooper (4/7 anytime goalscorer) adding to his goalscoring tally in front of the Celtic faithful.

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Saints to add to Pompey’s woes

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Saturday promises to be a crucial day in the Championship, both at the top and the bottom of the league. Let’s take a look at the key fixtures in the promotion race.

Southampton v Portsmouth

Both of these bitter rivals need the three points in Saturday’s lunchtime fixture, albeit for different reasons. The Saints are currently riding high at the top of the Championship while second from bottom Pompey will be hoping to stave off the very real threat of relegation.

The return of Saints’ top scorer Rickie Lambert, who missed last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Blackpool, is ominous for a Portsmouth side that have conceded 48 goals this season. They are coming into this match after shipping five goals at home against Burnley so back Lambert at 11/4 to score the first goal.

Despite the Saints’ drubbing last time out, they have kept three clean sheets in their last six games and will be determined to get their promotion push back on track against their local adversaries. Pompey have only scored 41 goals this season so Southampton could easily win this game to nil.

A scorecast of Lambert first goalscorer and a Saints 3-0 win at 18/1 looks tempting.

Birmingham City v Crystal Palace

The Midlands side are firmly ensconced in the play-off places and will be hoping to consolidate this position against mid-table Palace.

The St Andrew’s outfit will hope to welcome back midfielder Keith Fahey, who has missed the last three games through injury, but boss Chris Hughton may have one eye on the match against promotion rivals West Ham on Monday and could rest players.

With defenders Stephen Carr (knee), Jonathan Spector (thigh) and Pablo Ibanez (hamstring) all unavailable, the 11/2 on Palace looks a good price. However, they are coming into this game on the back of a 3-0 home defeat to lowly Nottingham Forest and Birmingham are on a run of successive 3-1 wins. Totesport pay 10/1 on this result being repeated.

Middlesbrough v Cardiff City

This clash at the Riverside is a battle between two teams on the fringes of the play-off places. Only two points separate seventh-placed Boro and eighth-placed Cardiff in the league standings.

If recent form is anything to go by, expect a draw at 12/5 in this one. Cardiff travel to the North-East on the back of four straight stalemates, while Boro have remarkably been held to 1-1 draws in each of their last four games. 11/2 on the same scoreline is tempting.

The return of midfielder Faris Haroun is set to boost Tony Mowbray’s side and the 9/4 for him to score anytime is a good punt as he is a player who makes things happen.

Meanwhile, the Bluebirds have no new injury or suspension worries, although boss Malky Mackay will have to decide whether to drop misfiring striker Kenny Miller who has not scored in any of his last 14 outings.

Both sides have faltered of late and will be desperate to get their play-off push back on track. Expect a result that will benefit no-one – a fifth successive draw for both sides.

Millwall v Hull City

The Tigers currently sit in ninth place in the Championship, five points off the play-off places, and will be targeting this game as a must-win if they are to keep their faint hopes of promotion alive.

Four straight defeats, including to lowly Portsmouth and Coventry in the last two, has derailed Hull’s promotion bid and, even though Millwall are facing a midfield injury crisis, this is the sort of game the Tigers have been losing.

Skipper Jack Hobbs and fellow defenders James Chester and Joe Dudgeon will all be absent meaning the relatively inexperienced duo of Liam Cooper and Sonny Bradley will form the heart of the defence. Hull have shipped two goals in each of their last four games so a 2-0 success for Millwall in this one at 9/1 looks the stand-out pick.

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Saints to add to Pompey’s woes

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Saturday promises to be a crucial day in the Championship, both at the top and the bottom of the league. Let’s take a look at the key fixtures in the promotion race.

Southampton v Portsmouth

Both of these bitter rivals need the three points in Saturday’s lunchtime fixture, albeit for different reasons. The Saints are currently riding high at the top of the Championship while second from bottom Pompey will be hoping to stave off the very real threat of relegation.

The return of Saints’ top scorer Rickie Lambert, who missed last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Blackpool, is ominous for a Portsmouth side that have conceded 48 goals this season. They are coming into this match after shipping five goals at home against Burnley so back Lambert at 11/4 to score the first goal.

Despite the Saints’ drubbing last time out, they have kept three clean sheets in their last six games and will be determined to get their promotion push back on track against their local adversaries. Pompey have only scored 41 goals this season so Southampton could easily win this game to nil.

A scorecast of Lambert first goalscorer and a Saints 3-0 win at 18/1 looks tempting.

Birmingham City v Crystal Palace

The Midlands side are firmly ensconced in the play-off places and will be hoping to consolidate this position against mid-table Palace.

The St Andrew’s outfit will hope to welcome back midfielder Keith Fahey, who has missed the last three games through injury, but boss Chris Hughton may have one eye on the match against promotion rivals West Ham on Monday and could rest players.

With defenders Stephen Carr (knee), Jonathan Spector (thigh) and Pablo Ibanez (hamstring) all unavailable, the 11/2 on Palace looks a good price. However, they are coming into this game on the back of a 3-0 home defeat to lowly Nottingham Forest and Birmingham are on a run of successive 3-1 wins. Totesport pay 10/1 on this result being repeated.

Middlesbrough v Cardiff City

This clash at the Riverside is a battle between two teams on the fringes of the play-off places. Only two points separate seventh-placed Boro and eighth-placed Cardiff in the league standings.

If recent form is anything to go by, expect a draw at 12/5 in this one. Cardiff travel to the North-East on the back of four straight stalemates, while Boro have remarkably been held to 1-1 draws in each of their last four games. 11/2 on the same scoreline is tempting.

The return of midfielder Faris Haroun is set to boost Tony Mowbray’s side and the 9/4 for him to score anytime is a good punt as he is a player who makes things happen.

Meanwhile, the Bluebirds have no new injury or suspension worries, although boss Malky Mackay will have to decide whether to drop misfiring striker Kenny Miller who has not scored in any of his last 14 outings.

Both sides have faltered of late and will be desperate to get their play-off push back on track. Expect a result that will benefit no-one – a fifth successive draw for both sides.

Millwall v Hull City

The Tigers currently sit in ninth place in the Championship, five points off the play-off places, and will be targeting this game as a must-win if they are to keep their faint hopes of promotion alive.

Four straight defeats, including to lowly Portsmouth and Coventry in the last two, has derailed Hull’s promotion bid and, even though Millwall are facing a midfield injury crisis, this is the sort of game the Tigers have been losing.

Skipper Jack Hobbs and fellow defenders James Chester and Joe Dudgeon will all be absent meaning the relatively inexperienced duo of Liam Cooper and Sonny Bradley will form the heart of the defence. Hull have shipped two goals in each of their last four games so a 2-0 success for Millwall in this one at 9/1 looks the stand-out pick.

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Hammers out to sink Saints

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Tuesday night sees a host of games taking place in the Championship, but one game that sticks out above the rest sees top of the table West Ham United take on second place Southampton (West Ham 11/10, draw 23/10, Southampton 5/2).

The Hammers will go into this game well rested, after their game over the weekend at Peterborough fell foul of the freezing conditions the UK endured the past week. West Ham’s last outing saw them record a hard fought 2-1 victory over arch rivals Millwall in a fiery London derby.

Manager Sam Allardyce has stamped his authority on this side and, although they might not be playing in the ‘West Ham style’, they have been getting the results, as they sit a point above the Saints with a game in hand over the South Coast outfit.

It has been the same old names bagging in the goals for the Hammers, with former Chelsea striker Carlton Cole their top goalscorer in the Championship, with nine to his name so far. West Ham (10/11 Championship outright) managed to keep hold of the 28-year-old in the January transfer window and will be looking for the England international to be a threat at Upton Park on Tuesday.

New signing Nicky Maynard will be pushing for his first start for the Hammers following his move from Bristol City and he will cause the Saints defence problems if he features.

As for Southampton (4/1 Championship outright) they head into this game on the back of a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Burnley at St Mary’s, with their new striker Billy Sharp getting his first goal for the club since his switch from Doncaster Rovers. Alongside top goalscorer Rickie Lambert, who has scored 20 goals in the Championship this term, Sharp should thrive with his new employers and the pair will be a handful for the West Ham defence.

Neither side wants to lose this game and with little to choose between the pair, this one might be a draw at Upton Park.

Elsewhere, Blackpool have not lost a league game in 2012 and they will be looking to continue that record when they travel across the Pennines to take on Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium (Doncaster 2/1, draw 12/5, Blackpool 13/10). The Tangerines currently find themselves fifth in the table as they push for a swift return back to the Premier League following relegation last season.

Blackpool come up against a Doncaster side who have not played this month, after seeing their last two games against Reading and Crystal Palace cancelled due to frozen pitches. With the loss of their top goalscorer Sharp, the Yorkshire outfit might well struggle for goals and with the Seasiders looking strong in defence, the visitors should come out on top in this one.

Tuesday will also see struggling Nottingham Forest make the long trip to the North East to take on ninth place Middlesbrough (Boro 5/6, draw 5/2, Forest 10/3). Forest battled to a 1-1 draw with Watford in their last outing, with points vital to the East Midlands outfit if they are to get out of the relegation zone.

Manager Steve Cotterill will be pleased to be taking on a Boro side who are not playing their best football of the season after a strong start. Tony Mowbray’s side will still be a tough prospect at the Riverside and could well get back to form with a win over a Forest team who continue to struggle in front of goal.

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Saints out to reclaim top spot

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Southampton saw West Ham United leapfrog themselves to claim top spot in the Championship table but they will be able to go top of the pile if they can pick up the three points against Leicester City on Monday night (Southampton 5/6, draw 13/5, Leicester 16/5).

The Saints had to watch as the Hammers ran out 2-1 winners over struggling Nottingham Forest on Saturday and now they find themselves chasing down the London outfit. It’s not going to be an easy task against a Foxes side who be full of confidence following their 4-0 FA Cup thrashing of Forest in midweek.

Former Leeds United and Everton striker Jermaine Beckford bagged himself a hat-trick against their East Midlands rivals and when the forward gets in the goals he tends to go on a run. Beckford (15/2 First Goalscorer) has great ability in the air and on either feet and expect him to be a threat for the Southampton defense at St Mary’s. The 28-year-old will be a key figure for a Foxes side who are struggling with injuries and players away on international duty ahead of the trip to the south coast.

Andy King is set to miss the clash with an Achilles injury, whilst defenders Sol Bamba and John Pantsil are away at the African Nations Cup for next few weeks. Nigel Pearson will certainly have some important selection decisions to make if his side are to get something against a Saints team who welcome back star striker Rickie Lambert. The 29-year-old has completed his three-match ban and will be looking to add to his 15 goals in the Championship this term.

Saints boss Nigel Adkins has been in the hunt for a new striker in the January transfer market, with Celtic man Gary Hooper at the top of the wish-list. It looks highly unlikely the former Scunthorpe United forward will join up with the former Irons manager and Adkins may have to look elsewhere for a potential strike partner for Lambert.

Monday’s game is set to have plenty of goals if their previous encounter in the league is anything to go by, with the Foxes running out 3-2 winner at the King Power Stadium.

Southampton (9/4 Championship Outright) have not been on the best run of form with just two victories in their last seven outings in the Championship. What will hold the home side in good stead is the fact that Leicester have never picked up all three points at St Marys.

This game has goals written all over it, with City scoring a goal in all of their last 10 games in the Championship and Southampton seeing the return of Lambert. Once again another close encounter between these two very attacking side is expected but absent players could play a key role in this clash. With a host of big game players missing for the visitors, expect the Saints to just edge this one as they look to march back to the top of the table.

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Saints to clip Robins’ wings

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Southampton take on Bristol City on Friday knowing that any result other than a defeat will see them start the New Year top of the Championship table. But Saints will be looking for all three points against a side struggling at the wrong end of the table and  will they get them? (Southampton 4/9, Bristol City 7/1, draw 3/1 Match Prices).

Southampton have not sampled life in the Premier League for more than six years and there have been plenty of low points since relegation at the end of the 2004-2005 campaign after 27 years of top-flight football.

But things are now very much on the up and Nigel Adkins appears to have assembled a squad capable of returning to the promised land (Southampton 6/4 Championship Outright).

Whether they could stay there is another matter and a debate for another day, as Saints welcome the west country side to St Mary’s Stadium to try and add another three points to their impressive tally of 47.

The odds on a Southampton win reflect their dominance at home this season with just two points dropped to date and there seems no reason to suggest that their unbeaten record on the south coast will go on Friday evening.

If they avoid defeat it will mean that Saints have gone an entire calendar year unbeaten at home and that is a statistic that deserves to see the club return to the top tier of English football.

But City fans can take some heart from the fact that Adkins’ charges have not been in the best of form of late with just one win from their past four games, with Doncaster beating them at the Keepmoat Stadium and Blackpool spoiling their perfect home record with a 2-2 draw on December 10.

But it is still an ominous home record and, with Bristol hovering just above the relegation zone, Derek McInnes‘ side will have it all to do.

One positive for City is the fact that they have taken more points on the road this term than at Ashton Gate with three wins and three draws away from home already.

However, they have not won in five games with just two points out of a possible 15 from a 2-2 draw with Watford and a goalless draw at home to Nottingham Forest.

Indeed the last time the City fans celebrated a win was against Friday’s opponents, following a 2-0 victory over Southampton in Bristol on November 26.

That seems like a long time ago in football terms but at least the City players know that they can beat the table-toppers if they play to their potential.

A few Robins’ stars have been bullish about their chances of turning Southampton over with defender Lewin Nyatanga confident that they can do the double over the 1976 FA Cup winners.

But he and his fellow members of the rearguard will have to stop a rampant Saints side who have already scored 30 goals at home this term.

City have only scored 21 goals all season and 12 have come away from home and with uncertainty surrounding the future of top-scorer Nicky Maynard, it is unclear where the goals will come from on Friday night.

McInnes has defended the former Crewe Alexander man, who looks set to leave in the January transfer window, but it is open to question whether his head will be right for a game of this magnitude, given the fact that his own supporters have started to turn against him.

But City need him to play and to be on top of his game to have any chance of getting anything out of this one.

In terms of team news for Saints, Richard Chaplow looks set to miss the clash after picking up a knee injury in training while Steve De Ridder may keep his place in the Southampton side.

The heart says that the Robins might spring a surprise and take all three points but the head is definitively going to overrule and suggest that this will be a comfortable home win by at least two clear goals.

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Saints top the class at half-term

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The Championship reached its halfway point on Boxing Day with Southampton leading the race after starting where they left off in League One last term, pre-season favourites West Ham occupy the second automatic spot, while Middlesbrough are the surprise package so far. Looking ahead to the next 23 fixtures it will be a difficult task to determine which clubs will stay the distance. However, we will endeavour to look at who could be on their way to the promise land of the Premier League by next May.

Southampton have done fantastically well, particularly at St Mary’s where they have collected 34 points from a possible 36 to date and that is where their automatic promotion (6/4 Championship Outright) aspirations will lie.

There was a hint that Nigel Adkins’ men could be on the slide in recent weeks as their 100 per cent home record went following a 2-2 draw with Blackpool, while they lost 1-0 away to struggling Doncaster.

But they got back on track on Boxing Day with a home victory against Crystal Palace and lead the table by three points from West Ham and Middlesbrough.

The Saints’ away form needs some improvement, but as long as they keep performing on home soil and with the prospect of January investment on the cards, they should have enough to make it back-to-back promotions.

Sam Allardyce’s West Ham were the pre-season promotion favourites and have just about lived up to that billing in the first half of the season (6/4 Outright Winners).

Ironically it is the Londoners’ away form – seven wins and just two defeats from 12 games – which has played a big part in their haul of 44 points.

The Hammers’ have been rocked by a recent injury crisis as Matt Taylor, Sam Baldock, Winston Reid, Abdoulaye Faye, David Bentley and Guy Demel are all currently sidelined with various problems.

However, if they can turn Upton Park into a fortress in the New Year, Big Sam’s squad is oozing with Premier League players and are still a good bet to lift the title.

Tony Mowbray has had a massive impact at the Riverside Stadium, having turned last season’s relegation candidates Middlesbrough into potential promotion material (8/1 Outright).

The Teesside-born tactician has even worked on a restricted budget, having slashed the wage bill last summer, but is still managing to work wonders with a squad that is short on numbers.

Boro are currently the form team of the Championship having won their last four successive games and not only sit level on points with second-placed West Ham, but are eight points clear of Blackpool – who sit outside the final play-off spot.

Boro are hard to beat, but have only just started to grind out home wins after drawing too many matches at the Riverside earlier in the campaign. That could be a crucial trait to have acquired as the season progresses, but January could potentially upset the apple-cart.

Skipper Matthew Bates could be sold to avoid him leaving on a Bosman free transfer next summer, while the influential Rhys Williams is bound to attract some of the Premier League vultures.

If Mowbray can keep the duo on board and possibly add to his attacking options where Boro are still short on numbers, then many will be backing him to get the club back into the big time.

Elsewhere, Cardiff (14/1 Outright) have remained a consistent side in the Championship despite the summer upheaval with Malky Mackay replacing Dave Jones and look good for at least a play-off place, while Hull have not been too badly affected by Nigel Pearson’s departure back to Leicester as Nicky Barmby has been pulling results and performances out of the bag.

Reading have shaken off the hangover from last season’s play-off final heart-break to surge up the table and into the play-off places in recent weeks, so are also worthy of consideration.

Blackpool and Leeds remain on the fringes but are lacking consistency at the moment, while Leicester under new boss Pearson have the resources to bring in new faces next month and are only five points off a play-off spot.

Dark horses to make a surge are Ipswich Town (6/1 Outright). Paul Jewell was potentially 45 minutes away from the sack, with his side trailing Barnsley 2-0 at Oakwell earlier this month.

However, the Tractor boys’, who boast an impressive squad packed with experience, stormed back after half time to win 5-3 and have since defeated Derby and drawn at Leicester.

Ipswich are currently 19th and nine points off the top-six but with 23 more games to play, they could soon to motor up the table between now and the season-finale on April 28.

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Saints set to sink struggling Dons

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St Johnstone suffered a set-back to their hopes of qualifying for Europe last weekend but they have a chance to put things right on Tuesday night when they host Aberdeen at McDiarmid Park (St Johnstone 11/10, draw 12/5, Aberdeen 12/5 – match prices).

Saints were not at the races on Saturday, as third place Motherwell showed why they are the side chasing down Rangers and Celtic in the Scottish Premier League this season.

Manager Steve Lomas blamed his side’s lack of focus for the heavy home defeat last weekend but has highlighted the Tuesday night game against Aberdeen as a great opportunity to get their domestic campaign back on track.

Saints are now seven points off Motherwell in the table but will be able to narrow the gap if they can get a win over a struggling Aberdeen outfit.

Francisco Sandaza (9/2 first goalscorer) has been a dangerman for the Perth side, scoring six goals in the SPL so far this season.

The 27-year-old Spaniard, has notched up eight goals in all competitions and the visitors will have to be wary of the former Brighton striker on Tuesday night.

As for the Dons the alarm bells will be ringing among their fans as they continue to search for that elusive win.

Aberdeen are level on points with bottom of the table Dunfermline, after failing to secure a victory in their last six games.

Pressure is starting to mount on former Scotland manager Craig Brown, who could be forgiven for wondering why he left high-flying Motherwell in a controversial move last season.

The club’s problems have really started from the back as they have only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 outings in all competitions.

They will need to start tightening things up in defence if they want to start climbing the table north of the border and avoid a battle at the bottom with the likes of Dunfermline, Hibernian and Inverness CT.

Aberdeen do have threats of their own upfront, with New Zealander Rory Fallon (8/1 first goalscorer) and Englishman Scott Vernon both having the ability to unlock defences and they may well fancy their chances against a side who shipped in three goals on the weekend.

Both teams will be desperate to pick up the three points for different reasons as they compete at different ends of the SPL table.

Despite being outclassed in their last outing Lomas should get his side fully focused on this game on Tuesday and it’s hard to see the home team not beating the lacklustre Dons, who may need to look in the January transfer market if they are to get themselves out of trouble this season.

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Home sweet home for Saints

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There is a full programme of fixtures in the Championship this weekend and looking at the top five games which will have an impact on both ends of the table, none come bigger than the St Mary’s showdown between Southampton and Middlesbrough.

Southampton v Middlesbrough (3pm)

We’ll start the preview on the south coast as top-of-the-table Southampton play host to a Middlesbrough side which sits in third spot and three points off the Saints while also boasting the best away record in the Championship to date.

Saints boss Nigel Adkins will hope Adam Lallana shakes off the injury which has ruled him out of the past four games as his side look to bounce back from the 2-0 Carling up exit at Crystal Palace by recording a club record 16th consecutive win on home soil.

However, Boro, who secured a first win in six league games against Derby last weekend, should have skipper Matthew Bates back from injury to bolster a defence which is the tightest in the division with only eight goals conceded to date.

Boro have never lost at St Mary’s but this weekend could see that run end in a close-fought encounter.

Prediction: Southampton Home 90 Minutes @ 10/11

Value Bet: Southampton To Win 2-1 Correct Score @ 7/1

West Ham v Leicester (3pm)

Sam Allardyce’s Hammers jumped above Middlesbrough into second spot on goal difference courtesy of Monday’s hard-fought 1-0 win against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

And they will be hoping to collect a fourth win in seven league games against a manager-less Foxes side which axed Sven-Goran Eriksson in the week following their dismal 3-0 home defeat to Millwall last Saturday – a second defeat in three outings.

Leicester have not won away from home since the opening day of the season at Coventry, while they have not picked up three points at Upton Park in 11 years, although it is seven seasons since the sides last met in the league.

Allardyce is still without a host of players including Henri Lansbury, Matt Taylor, James Tomkins, Carlton Cole, Guy Demel, Gary O’Neil and goalkeeper Robert Green, but it seems he has enough to grind out results.

But with Leicester still missing defender Matt Mills due to suspension, surely the Hammers will come out on top in this one.

Prediction: West Ham Home 90 Minutes @ 5/6

Value Bet: Nolan 1s Goal West Ham 2-0 Scorecast @ 28/1

Birmingham v Brighton (3pm)

An interesting fixture is in store at St Andrew’s where the two sides have seen their respective fortunes change drastically in recent weeks.

Chris Hughton has overcome a lacklustre start to the campaign to guide the Blues to six straight wins in all competitions to move to within a point of the play-off places with two games in hand.

Brighton, on the other hand, enjoyed a six-match unbeaten start, but have now failed to win in seven which has seen them slide from top spot to 13th in the table.

They will be without Gary Dicker who fractured his fibula during Monday’s home defeat to West Ham. It could be a close game, but with Birmingham on a hot run of form it would be a surprise if they did not come out on top in this clash.

Prediction: Birmingham Home 90 Minutes @ Evens

Value Bet: Brighton/ Birmingham HT/FT @ 25/1

Doncaster v Coventry (3pm)

Looking down the Championship table and while it is relatively early in the season, this is a game that could well be billed as a relegation six-pointer at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Dean Saunders’ arrival as new Rovers boss heralded the start of a mini-revival just before and after the international break as they picked up seven points from his first three matches to jump out of the relegation places.

However, three successive defeats since have plunged the South Yorkshiremen back into the drop zone and they will hope to get back to winning ways when fourth-bottom Coventry arrive in town.

Andy Thorn’s men, who are just a point clear of the bottom three, should be boosted by the return of Gary McSheffrey and Martin Cranie for the game.

However, they have only won one in their last seven games while they have scored just three away goals in six away games to match the same paltry figure Rovers have scored so far on home soil.

It has got a low-scoring draw written all over it.

Prediction: Draw 90 Minutes @ 9/4

Value Bet: 0-0 Correct Score @ 15/2

Barnsley v Bristol City (3pm)

A game of huge importance at Oakwell as new Bristol City boss Derek McInnes takes charge of his first away match having spent a first full week in charge at Ashton Gate.

It will not be an easy match for the Robins against Keith Hill’s Tykes who are aiming to register their third straight win on home soil. However, with a five-point gap between City at the foot of the Championship and fourth-bottom Coventry, McInnes will not want it to widen anymore this weekend.

City are set to have Cole Skuse back from a head injury picked up in last weekend’s home defeat against Birmingham as they chase only their second win of the season. Barnsley sit five points clear of the drop zone after their recent good run at home, although they were beaten 5-3 at Cardiff last weekend.

Bobby Hassell faces a late fitness test while Danny Haynes and Matty Done are set to miss out yet again.

There are usually goals in games between these two sides – at least five in their previous four head-to-heads – and that could be the case again on Saturday.

It looks a home banker but the outcome could well depend on how well McInnes has got his ideas across to the Bristol City players over the past five days.

Prediction: Draw 90 Minutes @ 12/5
Value Bet: 2-2 Draw Correct Score @ 14/1

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