Southampton will be desperate to get back to winning ways when they welcome Newcastle United to St Mary's.
The Saints have won just one of their last six matches - against rock-bottom Crystal Palace - and what had been a solid start to the season is in serious danger of dissipating for Mauricio Pellegrino's men; as such, Southampton are acutely aware of the importance of victory against the Magpies.
SportPesa go 5/6 (1.83) that the hosts pick up all three points in Hampshire, while the odds compilers offer 49/20 (3.45) that the two teams are forced to settle for a share of the spoils from Sunday's showdown.
Rafael Benitez's men, however, will travel south in confident mood, for the Magpies have been beaten in just one of their last five matches in all competitions and came from behind to take a share of the spoils from their most recent match - a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at St James' Park.
The team from Tyneside, then, will fancy their chances of increasing the pressure on the Saints and SportPesa offer 7/2 (4.50) that it is the visitors who emerge victorious at the end of what is sure to be a keenly-contested 90 minutes.
A glut of goals, however, seems unlikely on this occasion; Southampton have struggled badly in front of goal so far this season, with Pellegrino's men managing just two goals in their last six games.
The odds compilers offer 3/1 (4.0) that the shot-shy Saints fail to find the net in this match, while SportPesa's 5/7 (1.71) quote for fewer than three goals to be scored could well prove popular, especially given that the selection would have landed in five of Newcastle United's seven league games so far this season, as well as in five or the last six games that Pellegrino's team have contested.
Newcastle have conceded more than a single goal in just one league match so far this season and SportPesa go 5/1 (6.0) that the Magpies win without conceding when they travel to Hampshire, while the same firm go 13/10 (2.30) that the first half of this fixture ends goalless.
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Newcastle's lack of firepower has been a source of frustration for Benitez and his team this season and, indeed, the Magpies have managed more than a solitary goal in just two league games; SportPesa go 51/20 (3.55) that the visitors buck that particular trend by scoring two or more against Pellegrino's team.
A tight tussle looks likely between two teams struggling to score goals and SportPesa's 5/7 (1.71) quote for fewer than three goals to be scored could be a solid selection; better value, though, may lie in backing fewer than two goals to be scored at 41/20 (3.05) - that particular play would have landed in each of Newcastle's three Premier League fixtures away from St James' Park so far this season and it could provide punters with a path to profit once again.
