Southampton v Norwich: Game could go either way but goals certain
Published:Two in-form relegation battlers lock horns at St Mary’s in a game that the hosts can’t afford to lose as they build up a precious head of steam.
Southampton are 23/20 favourites to claim the spoils here and their ability to find the back of the net, especially at home, makes this a fairly strong price.
Their tally of 12 goals in front of their own fans is bettered only by the resident top-four, Arsenal and Fulham, while Chris Hughton’s Canaries are not as strong on their travels as what they are at Carrow Road.
They’ve drawn three on the spin after coming perilously close to losing their unbeaten run at Everton last time out, but with no win in seven on the road thus far, Southampton have nothing to fear.
Away win number one would put the Canaries seven points clear of their relegation rivals and, with a kind run of fixtures to come in the build up to Christmas, this could prove pivotal come the end of the season.
Their price in the match betting stakes isn’t a bad one either at 21/10, especially when you consider that they’re playing a team who ship goals for fun, as well as scoring them in abundance.
No side in the division has conceded more than the Saints and, while Norwich are far from prolific at the best of times, it’s worth punting on over 2.5 goals here at 4/6.
Nigel Adkins’ men moved out of the drop-zone courtesy of their 2-0 win over Newcastle last time out. This was the perfect way to follow up their 3-1 win over QPR the weekend prior and it was also their first clean sheet in the top-flight this term.
Norwich’s confidence is clearly sky-high at the moment and their determination to avoid defeat is highly commendable. It also means they’re likely to find the back of the net against Saints’ permeable defensive set up.
Southampton will be confident of outgunning the low-scoring Canaries, however, which is what makes the 3/1 on offer for them to win the game with both teams on the score sheet well worth a punt.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
