Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
This is a crucial clash. It might not be the most enjoyable to watch, with likely numerous errors, but it promises to be thrilling nonetheless.
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton are unbeaten in their last two games, but they've both been draws. The first was a miraculous 2:2 result, thanks to an error by a Brighton player during an attacking move. The second was a missed opportunity for a win, ending 2:2 against Crystal Palace, despite the London side holding the upper hand with 19 shots to Wolverhampton' 11. In fact, Crystal Palace seemed closer to victory, with 2.51 xG against 1.53. Not to forget, Wolverhampton conceded an equaliser in the 98th minute against Manchester City the previous month (2:1). They do concede a lot — 27 goals, although their xGA is 19.57. Without those seven excess goals, Wolverhampton could have had a couple of wins.
Southampton
Southampton managed their first Premier League win since returning, defeating Everton (1:0) in the last round — not a surprising feat given Everton’s ability to underperform against any opponent, despite hints of a positive run. This victory allowed Southampton to rise to 19th place, but they need a win against Wolverhampton and hope for a resounding Crystal Palace defeat to move out of the relegation zone. On the road, they have yet to taste victory. Their only away win came in the League Cup against Cardiff City from the Championship, the team that was struggling back in August (5:3).
Wolverhampton vs Southampton Prediction
We don’t see a clear winner here, even though bookmakers favour the home team. Both sides continue to have defensive issues, so we'd expect at least three goals.
