Southampton v Swansea preview
Last Updated: November 9, 2012 1:39pm
Nigel Adkins: Needs Southampton to start picking up points
Rock-bottom Southampton entertain Swansea on Saturday with reports suggesting that pressure is mounting on Nigel Adkins.
Adkins led the Saints to promotion last season, returning them to the top-flight after a seven-year absence, but life among English football's elite has been something of a struggle.
Southampton have collected just one win from their opening 10 fixtures, with only four points and the worst defensive record in the league leaving them rooted to the foot of the table.
It is imperative that performances improve drastically in the build-up to Christmas, with Adkins aware that he is in a results business and must prove that he is the right man to guide the club forward.
Swansea will hope to push him a little deeper into the mire this weekend, while aiding their own quest to clamber into the top-half of the division.
Michael Laudrup will be keen for his side to establish some consistency and build on a positive showing against high-flying Chelsea last time out.
Southampton
Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc is back in contention after an alleged incident in their last home game with Tottenham.
The Polish keeper missed Monday's defeat at West Brom after allegations he threw a bottle at home fans and swore at them, but Adkins says he is in his thoughts once more following the conclusion of a thorough investigation.
Jack Cork is also available again after a knee injury, while right-back Frazer Richardson is close to his first-team return and will step up his comeback from a groin problem in Monday's development game at Tottenham.
Swansea
Swansea defender Chico Flores is set to miss the trip to the South Coast as he struggles to overcome a dead leg.
The Spaniard suffered the injury in the Capital One Cup win over Liverpool and missed the draw with Chelsea. Laudrup rates him as 'very doubtful' to face the Saints.
Club captain Garry Monk is set to continue in the centre of defence while Michel Vorm (groin), Kyle Bartley (thigh) and Neil Taylor (broken ankle) are all out.
Opta stats
- There has never been a 0-0 draw in this league fixture on the south coast and there have been 100 goals scored in 29 meetings.
- The 28 goals Southampton have conceded after 10 games this season equates to a joint-PL record at this stage (with Barnsley in 1997/98).
- The Saints are the first team in Premier League history to trail in all of the first 10 matches of the season.
Previous game's starting line-ups
4-4-2
-
1
Davis K
-
2
Clyne
-
6
Fonte
-
5
Hooiveld
-
23
Shaw
-
8
Davis S
-
4
Schneiderlin
-
18
Cork
-
20
Lallana
-
9
Rodriguez
-
7
Lambert
Team taken from Southampton vs Stoke City (Barclays Premier League) on Sunday 19th May 2013
4-5-1
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1
Vorm
-
22
Rangel
-
4
Chico
-
6
Williams A
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33
Davies
-
11
Hernandez
-
7
Britton
-
15
Routledge
-
20
de Guzman
-
12
Dyer
-
9
Michu
Team taken from Swansea vs Fulham (Barclays Premier League) on Sunday 19th May 2013
Latest Poll
Matches
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Barclays Premier League
Table
Barclays Premier League
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 38 | 89 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 38 | 78 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 38 | 75 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 38 | 73 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 72 |
| 6 | Everton | 38 | 63 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 38 | 61 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion | 38 | 49 |
| 9 | Swansea City | 38 | 46 |
| 10 | West Ham United | 38 | 46 |
| 11 | Norwich City | 38 | 44 |
| 12 | Fulham | 38 | 43 |
| 13 | Stoke City | 38 | 42 |
| 14 | Southampton | 38 | 41 |
| 15 | Aston Villa | 38 | 41 |
| 16 | Newcastle United | 38 | 41 |
| 17 | Sunderland | 38 | 39 |
| 18 | Wigan Athletic | 38 | 36 |
| 19 | Reading | 38 | 28 |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 38 | 25 |
Related
Southampton v Swansea
Cork hails Saints team spirit
Southampton midfielder Jack Cork says the team spirit at St Mary's will help to pull them out of the relegation zone.
Laudrup wants more from Swans
Michael Laudrup was looking for more cutting edge from his Swansea side in their 1-1 draw at Southampton.
Adkins looks on the bright side
Nigel Adkins says Southampton will take the positives from their 1-1 draw with Swansea despite squandering their lead.
