Premier League continues on Monday with a huge relegation battle to ensue at City Ground, where bottom-placed Southampton face fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.
Forest comes into this tie in a relatively better shape, having won at least one of their last five league games (L4), unlike their visitors, who are winless in nine games (D3, L3) and sit at the foot of the pile. They also sit six points ahead of the Saints, having won one game more.
However, the hosts’ solitary win in 13 games has not helped them much, as they remain in the relegation zone ahead of this game. Steve Cooper’s side is sitting level on points with Leicester and Leeds United but has a worse goal difference.
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This is primarily due to their porous defence that has conceded 62 goals this season, with only Bournemouth (64) and Leeds United (69) the side with the most goals conceded in this Premier League campaign.
But ahead of this game, Forest have the opportunity to close the gap to safety by completing the first top-flight league double over their visitors since 1995/96, having won 1-0 at St Mary’s in the reverse fixture.
But Southampton will look to ensure that does not happen when they visit City Ground. The Saints may be at the bottom of the table with four games to play, but they will consider themselves a quality side given how tough they could be to break down on their day.
Yet they are the second-lowest scoring side in the league with 28 goals, while they are also one of the four PL sides conceding 60+ goals this season.
That makes this trip more tricky for the Saints as Forest have kept clean sheets in three of their four home games against sides ranked 15th or worse (W3, D1).
Yet, they will be desperate for some joy and to end a run of nine games without a win (D3, L6). But their away form across their last eight trips doesn’t inspire confidence (W1, D2, L5), while their record on Monday night football is also a cause for concern as the Saints have lost each of their last three PL games to be played on this weekday.
But Forest are also winless in their last 12 PL games played on Mondays (D7, L5), despite getting on the scoresheet in seven of the previous eight. Therefore, this game has the markings of a dead rubber classic with few goals scored.
That said, an under 1.5 goals bet could be the best prediction here, while a mixed chance bet would also not be out of place.
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