Southampton v Tottenham Preview: Close contest at St Mary’s Stadium
They’ve had to wait patiently while every other team in the Premier League played across the past two days but Southampton and Tottenham finally get the chance to play their first festive fixture on Wednesday.
As regards the betting, this game is pretty much a pick ’em with most bookmakers as the layers struggle to split the two top flight teams in the win-draw-win market. Paddy Power are now best price on a Tottenham victory at 7/4 (2.75), that’s a price that’s drifted out in the past few hours as punters put their faith in the other two outcomes.
Southampton are very marginal favourites at 17/10 (2.70) with the Irish firm while the draw is an 11/5 (3.20) shot.
As the odds would suggest, this game is likely to be extremely tight. Saints’ have lost out in just one game in front of their own crowd this season, that 2-0 defeat came at the hands of league leaders Chelsea and Claude Puel has made his team extremely tough to beat on the south coast. In the other 12 home games in all competitions this term, Southampton have won eight, drawn four.
Tottenham will come into this match with high hopes though, they’ve won four of their last five matches in all competitions but compared to the likes of victories over Swansea City, Hull City and Burnley, plus a dead-rubber in the Champions League, this test is set to be much tougher.
What’s more, those wins all came at home, either White Hart Lane or Wembley, where as their away record makes for much more of a tricky read for Tottenham backers. Mauricio Pochettino’s men haven’t won on the road since 29th September, a run of eight matches in all competitions consisting of four draws and four defeats.
While their fixture list on the road has been tricky, there is no doubt that this trip is no easy task for the visitors but given they too pose a threat, the best option here could be to take some of the 11/5 (3.20) on the match ending all square.
Apart from the impressive Chelsea, these two teams have the next best defensive records in the Premier League. Southampton have leaked just 16 goals while it’s 12 for the visitors. With that in mind plenty will be interested in the under 2.5 goals market but it’s priced accordingly at 4/6 (1.67). Over 2.5 goals is an 11/10 (2.10) chance.
Both teams to score “No” could be a better option to oppose goals at St Mary’s at 10/11 (1.91) with Paddy Power while those searching for a bigger potential return could take a smaller stake investment in a correct score wager. A 1-1 draw is priced at 5/1 (6.0) and has landed in three of Tottenham’s away games in the Premier League this term while Southampton have played out three 0-0 draws this season.
That’s a 7/1 (8.0) chance with online bookies Paddy Power but punters are always encouraged to back the same price on “No Goalscorer” in the first goalscorer market, this covers you in the case of an own goal meaning the correct score punt on 0-0 would be a loser.
