Southampton face Burnley tomorrow in a fixture of equal importance at both ends of the table.
The Saints are looking to keep alive Champions League hopes. For the Clarets, the goal is the same has it has been on all season – survival.
Both teams are coming into this game on the back of fantastic results against the Premier League’s top two – the Saints drawing away to Chelsea and Burnley beating Manchester City.
For the home side, they go into the game knowing that dropping any points against lesser teams would be detrimental to their European hopes. Captain, Jose Fonte labelled the draw at Stamford Bridge ‘pointless’ if they fail to beat Burnley.
Ronald Koeman’s big decision will be whether to recall Graziano Pelle to his starting line-up after dropping the Italian for Shane Long in last week’s draw against Chelsea. Pelle is without a goal in his last 12 games and Long’s presence up front last week was a constant threat.
With a win tomorrow Koeman’s men can put heavy pressure on the teams above them – with Liverpool facing Manchester United on Sunday; at least one of Saints’ direct rivals will drop points.
In recent times the South Coast club have struggled to beat teams when they have adopted a more defensive approach – Swansea, West Ham and Liverpool all stopped the Saints from winning and scoring at St. Mary’s last month.
Speaking in his press conference, Ronald Koeman believes that this was a confidence issue and believes the recent blip is behind them.
“I think the confidence is back, but that’s talking; show it on Saturday. Of course the last result against Chelsea, and the way we played for the first half, will give us the confidence that a player needs to play good football.” said the Dutchman.
“Opponents are coming to St Mary’s maybe with a little bit more defensive mentality; to wait, to defend, and you need to be patient and to do the right movements at the right time.”
In the reverse fixture, Ashley Barnes’ deflected strike and Tom Heaton’s penalty save from Dusan Tadic saw the Clarets bag the win at a freezing cold Turf Moor.
Burnley come to St. Mary’s on the back of their first win in eight games; George Boyd’s sweet strike was the difference at Turf Moor against Manchester City.
Burnley’s run of only one win in eight is more respectable than it seems; these eight games have included, alongside City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
A win tomorrow could see the Lancashire side leapfrog a destitute Sunderland side, taking them out of the relegation zone.
Sean Dyche believes that his side’s recent results will be a huge confidence boost ahead of more tough fixtures, including three more of the top seven.
“The result last weekend gives everyone a big lift, especially with the performance as it was, but it’s only three points,” he said.
“We have surprised a few people along the way and it’s just having that belief now.”
