Played
December 22, 2012 10:00 AM EST
St. Mary's Stadium — Southampton, Hampshire
Referee: H. Webb
Attendance: 31275
December 22, 2012 10:00 AM EST
St. Mary's Stadium — Southampton, Hampshire
Referee: H. Webb
Attendance: 31275
Premier League Preview: Southampton - Sunderland
The Saints have pulled themselves out of the relegation zone with some creditable performances in recent weeks, and now play host to a visiting side sitting one place above them.
By Al Hain-Cole
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
|
SOUTHAMPTON
 Davis Clyne, Yoshida, Fonte, Shaw Schneiderlin, Cork Puncheon, Ramirez, Rodriguez Lambert |
SUNDERLAND
 Mignolet Gardner, Cuellar, O'Shea, Rose Johnson, Larsson, Colback, McLean Sessegnon Fletcher |
Kelvin Davis will keep his place in the Southampton goal ahead of the injured Paulo Gazzaniga (shoulder), after keeping only his side's second clean sheet of the season against Reading last time out.
Adam Lallana's knee injury should see Gaston Ramirez continue in the supporting role behind Rickie Lambert, although he may alternate with Jay Rodriguez on the left wing.
Sunderland's Steven Fletcher (ankle) has recovered more quickly than anticipated from the injury that forced him off against Manchester United last weekend, and he should start.
Danny Rose (ankle) should be fit to start at left back, allowing Jack Colback to move back into central midfield and Craig Gardner to revert to right back in the absence of Phil Bardsley (knee).
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Southampton is unbeaten in four games at St Mary's, while Sunderland has only won once on the road in their last 16 matches.
- The last Premier League meeting between these two sides came in January 2003, when James Beattie scored the winner in a 1-0 Saints victory.
- Reading (17) is the only side to have lost more points from winning positions this season than Southampton (15).
- Only bottom-of-the-league Reading (six) has won fewer than the eight points won by Sunderland over the last 10 Premier League fixtures.
- With seven yellow cards to his name already, the Mackems' Craig Gardner (pictured, right) is the most-booked player in the league.
- No side has won fewer points from losing positions than Sunderland this season in the top flight (one).
- The Saints have been fouled less than any other Premier League team this season, while their visitors have been fouled the most.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Southampton 1-2 Sunderland
- 9.75 %
-
Southampton 2-1 Sunderland
- 9.47 %
-
Southampton 1-1 Sunderland
- 6.96 %
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | May 12, 2013 | Sunderland 1 - Southampton 1 |
|
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | Dec 22, 2012 | Southampton 0 - Sunderland 1 |
|
Southampton
    |
||
| May 19, 2013 | Southampton 1 - Stoke 1 | EPL |
| May 12, 2013 | Sunderland 1 - Southampton 1 | EPL |
| May 4, 2013 | Tottenham 1 - Southampton 0 | EPL |
| Apr 27, 2013 | Southampton 0 - West Bromwich 3 | EPL |
| Apr 20, 2013 | Swansea City 0 - Southampton 0 | EPL |
Sunderland
 |
||
| May 19, 2013 | Tottenham 1 - Sunderland 0 | EPL |
| May 12, 2013 | Sunderland 1 - Southampton 1 | EPL |
| May 6, 2013 | Sunderland 1 - Stoke 1 | EPL |
| Apr 29, 2013 | Aston Villa 6 - Sunderland 1 | EPL |
| Apr 20, 2013 | Sunderland 1 - Everton 0 | EPL |
| 1 | Kelvin Davis | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Nathaniel Clyne | Defender |
| 3 | Maya Yoshida | Defender |
| 6 | Jose Rocha Fonte | Defender |
| 23 | Luke Shaw | Defender |
| 4 | Morgan Schneiderlin | Midfielder |
| 10 | G. Ramírez | Midfielder |
| 18 | Jack Cork | Defender |
| 42 | Jason Puncheon | Midfielder |
| 7 | Rickie Lambert | Striker |
| 24 | Emmanuel Mayuka | Striker |
| 31 | Artur Boruc | Goalkeeper |
| 22 | Frazer Richardson | Defender |
| 5 | Jos Hooiveld | Defender |
| 8 | Steven Davis | Midfielder |
| 21 | Guilherme Do Prado | Midfielder |
| 9 | Jay Rodriguez | Striker |
| 33 | Steve de Ridder | Striker |
| 22 | Simon Mignolet | Goalkeeper |
| 16 | John O'Shea | Defender |
| 24 | Carlos Javier Cuéllar | Defender |
| 25 | Danny Rose | Midfielder |
| 7 | Sebastian Larsson | Midfielder |
| 8 | Craig Gardner | Midfielder |
| 14 | Jack Colback | Midfielder |
| 11 | Adam Johnson | Midfielder |
| 23 | James McClean | Midfielder |
| 28 | Stéphane Sessegnon | Midfielder |
| 26 | Steven Fletcher | Striker |
| 20 | Keiren Westwood | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Phil Bardsley | Defender |
| 19 | Titus Bramble | Defender |
| 15 | David Vaughan | Midfielder |
| 25 | Fraizer Campbell | Striker |
| 10 | Connor Wickham | Striker |
| 16 | James McFadden | Striker |
Results
Times In EST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie Striker Man United |
26 | 3 |
|
Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
|
Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
|
C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
|
Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |
