Southampton will be looking to continue their good form of late when Queens Park Rangers come to St Mary’s tomorrow afternoon.
The Saints are unbeaten in three at home, and were denied two points on Tuesday night when Steve Davies notched in the 83rd minute to give Derby County a point.
Mark Wotte’s side sit in 23rd place, just two points off safety, and a win tomorrow could lift the Saints out of the relegation zone.
Queens Park Rangers are nine points off the play-offs, sitting in 11th place. However, Paulo Sousa’s side are currently on an eight game winless run, and so the three points are needed to kick-start the R’s promotion hopes.
Vital Quotes: Wotte on QPR
“They are reasonably secure and are not thinking about relegation problems. I know they have other aims and want to get promoted and get into the play-offs, but that gives them a different sort of pressure.
“It’s just eleven versus eleven on Saturday. Eleven players who are very committed and want to get out there and win every game. We are working our socks off and everyone is doing everything they can to keep Southampton up.”
Southampton Team News:
Mark Wotte has no fresh injury worries, and it’s likely that the Dutch boss will name an unchanged side from the visit of Derby on Tuesday night.
Adam Lallana came on as a substitute during that game, and the England under-21 international is in contention to start tomorrow.
Player to watch: Simon Gillett
The 23-year-old was pulling the strings on Tuesday night and winning everything in the middle of the park. Gillett has cemented his place in the side in recent weeks and the combative midfielder will be working his socks off once again for the side tomorrow.
Queens Park Rangers Team News:
Spurs midfielder Adel Taarabt joined QPR on loan earlier today and goes straight into the squad for the trip to St Mary’s.
Heidar Helguson and Damien Delaney are expected to be sidelined, along with Lee Cook who is out with a knee problem.
Player to watch: Dexter Blackstock
The ex-Southampton striker has scored 11 league goals for QPR this season, and the 22-year-old will be looking to make it 12 for the season and get one over his old club.
Match Facts & Stats
In the 65 meetings between these two sides, Saints have taken all three points on 24 occasions.
In the reverse fixture this season, Jan Poortvliet’s Saints crumbled at Loftus Road, losing 4-1 to a lively Rangers side. Southampton debutant Olly Lancashire was sent off just 30 minutes into his first Saints appearance.
Ref Watch:
Mr. Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Match Prediction:
Southampton 2 – 1 QPR
David McGoldrick and Adam Lallana to score after Dexter Blackstock puts the away side a goal up at St Mary’s.
Next Fixtures:
Saturday 21st March – Blackpool (A)
Saturday 4th April – Charlton (H)
