CHRIS Graham (@chrisgraham79) takes a view on the late game on Saturday as Southampton host Manchester City.
Southampton v Man City | Saturday 17:30 | BT Sport 1
It’s ninth against fourth in the Premier League on Saturday evening as Southampton host Man City. Both these sides sit under a cloud as the season draws to a close.
That’s probably a bit harsh on Saints in truth. They sit 9th, it’s a place many of their peers would kill to reach but there does seem to be a drop off from last season’s form.
It’s not really trendy to slag off Pep Guardiola but he simply has to be criticised for this season. The fact his side are in a battle just to make the Top 4 and have made no progress from last season is dreadful.
They’ve been chalked up at 4/5 to win this game and it’s not a price that appeals at all. City have won just one of their last five games and have failed to win away at any top half clubs apart from Man Utd and West Brom.
The win at Old Trafford was way back in September when Guardiola’s side were on a run of 10 wins in a row and looked destined to clinch the title. They are far off that place now seven months on.
Streaky Saints
Southampton have been streaky all season. They lost six league games out of seven at the turn of the year but have showed real character in bouncing back from their EFL Cup Final loss to Manchester United.
Indeed since that loss at Wembley they’ve lost just one of their next five matches (a 2-1 loss at White Hart Lane). Resurgent Crystal Palace were downed and they won at The Hawthorns. No mean feat.
Man City have a proclivity for conceding goals and backing Hull to notch against them last week proved fruitful. It’s now five games without a clean sheet for City and I fancy Saints to score against them here too.
With the Citizens desperate for a Top 4 berth it should be an exciting encounter. I’d far rather back Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals at 10/11 than City at shorter prices.
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Southampton v Man City – Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals (10/11 Coral)
