Saints go into this weekend`s game with Burnley fourth in the league and with only one defeat in the last 14 games
Vital Quotes:
Rudi Skacel told the official saints website: “It’s a very important match. We dropped points over Christmas so we have to make them up.
“We need more points and we need to keep winning if we are going to get to the Premier League, which is my only aim this season.
“I still think we can go up automatically. We’re well placed and we’re getting better all the time.”
Southampton Team News:
Saints have Inigo Idiakez, Nathan Dyer and Andrew Surman out injured defiantly as well as long term absentee Michael Svennson.
However Gareth Bale, Rudi Skacel, John Viafara and Claus Lundekvam are all expected to be available for selection after recovering from various injuries; however Lundekvam is expected to be wearing a protective face mask after an operation on his cheekbone.
Player to watch: Gregorz Raziak
Rasiak Will be going into this game with the an amazing 18 goals so far this season, however 14 of those goals have come away from home which is a stat the Gregorz will be looking to improve on.
Burnley Team News:
Many thanks to Vital Burnley who a quoted below for the Away team news
The Clarets can now welcome back Duff after a one match suspension against Reading and maybe we need his influence in defence which was somewhat shaky in the Reading game.
The question is will Steve Cotterill start with a similar squad and starting eleven. Will we see some new faces signed in the next couple of days? Will Frank Sinclair be fit and considered for selection? Steve indicated he was none to happy with the defence against Reading so perhaps we will see some radical changes to the back four.
One thing is clear we wont be seeing the return of the injured Andy Gray until February at least and its unlikely Danny Coyne will be fit and available as substitute goalkeeper. New loan signing from Wigan, Mike Pollitt may however feature
Player to watch: Gifton Noel-Williams or Andy Gray
With star striker Andy Gray possibly missing out, Burnley will be hoping that Gifton Noel-Williams can come up with the goals for them at St Marys Stadium
Match Facts & Stats
History
Saints go into this weekend`s game with Burnley fourth in the league and with only one defeat in the last 14 games in all competitions almost a mirror image to Burnley whose form has slowly declined over the months since the two sides last met and Burnley were in the top 6.
Back at the end of September 2006 Saints met Burnley at Turf Moor and won a bad tempered game by 3 – 2 which saw Burnley player Wayne Thomas see a red card with Burnley in front at the time 2 – 1 in the first half. Goals from Rudi Skacel and Gregorz Rasiak in the second half condemned Burnley to defeat.
Saints will be in confident mood following there 2-0 FA Cup win away at lowly Torquay United and will be looking for the all important 3 points that will lift them closer to the top 2 places in the championship.
All time Face to Face League Stats
Saints Wins – 14
Burnley Wins – 14
Draws – 11
Last Five Fixtures
This Season
CC Championship – Burnley 2 Southampton 3 – 23/09/06
2005/2006 Season
CC Championship – Burnley 1 Southampton 1 – 28/03/06
CC Championship – Southampton 1 Burnley 1 – 03/12/05
1977/1978
Division 2 (Old) – Burnley 3 Southampton 3 – 04/02/78
Division 2 (Old) – Southampton 3 Burnley 0 – 01/09/77
Ref Watch:
Anthony Bates is the ref for this Game.
Refs Stats
Games Refereed 23
Red Cards – 2
Yellow Cards – 57
Bates has not really one for giving red cards so far this season apart from 2 which both happend in the same game between Norwich and Cardiff back in October
Match Prediction:
Mikes Prediction– Southampton 2 Burnley 0
Next Fixtures:
QPR Vs Saints
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