Premier League: Southampton v Crystal Palace match preview

A look ahead to Saturday’s Premier League fixture at St. Mary’s

Dani Osvaldo is expected to feature for Southampton (GETTY IMAGES)

Southampton welcome newly-promoted Crystal Palace to St. Mary’s, fresh from defeating the Eagles’ League cup victors Bristol City in the third round of the competition.

Mauricio Pochettino will name a similar side to the team that subjected Liverpool to their first defeat of the season last weekend, after rotating for the visit of League One outfit Bristol City.

Arthur Boruc, Rickie Lambert and Dani Osvaldo will be among those to return, while Gaston Ramirez is likely to miss out on a start despite scoring the opener on Tuesday.

Ian Holloway is likely to stick with Barry Bannan who covered in the loss against Swansea a week ago, as Palace go in search of their first away win upon their return to the Premier League.

Paddy McCarthy and Glenn Murray are still a long way off returning from groin and knee injuries respectively.

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Crystal Palace 0 Southampton 2 (Lambert 2), Championship, April 2012

Southampton 2 (Do Prado 2) Crystal Palace 0, Championship, December 2011

Crystal Palace 2 (Ambrose, Easter) Southampton 0, League Cup, October 2011

STATS

Southampton and Palace haven’t met each other in the league since the 2004/05 season, when they drew 2-2 in both the home and away fixtures.

Crystal Palace forward Kevin Phillips featured for Southampton in both of those games, and equalised an Andy Johnson goal in the 50 minute for the Saints.

Southampton have won the last three games between the sides in league encounters, with the last being a 2-0 win courtesy of a Rickie Lambert brace.

Despite being 12 places behind their opponents, Palace have netted one more goal that Southampton so far this season with a tally of 4. However only Sunderland have conceded more goals than Palace’s 8.

ODDS…

Southampton to win: 1.51

Crystal Palace to win: 8.4

Draw: 4.4

TV: Highlights on BBC Match of the Day, Saturday 10.30 pm and Match of the Day 2, Sunday, 10.25 pm