Saturday 2 May 2015 15:06, UK
The time is now for Sunderland to start turning draws into wins as they host Southampton at the Stadium of Light.
Dick Advocaat’s men have racked up 15 draws this season and are just one point above the relegation zone with five games remaining.
Last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Stoke was a step in the right direction for Advocaat’s men but just one win from his first four games in charge has failed to seriously ease their relegation woes.
This fixture will evoke bad memories for the hosts, who were dismantled 8-0 by Southampton at St Mary’s earlier this season. It was Southampton's biggest margin of victory in a league match since December 1921 and Champions League qualification looked a distinct possibility at that time.
That ship has probably sailed now as they stand eight points behind Manchester United in fourth but a strong end to the season will guarantee them a European spot.
Team news
Advocaat is expecting Steven Fletcher to miss Saturday’s game.
The Scotland international missed last weekend’s draw against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium and has since undergone further tests to determine the full extent of an ankle injury.
Southampton will be missing Morgan Schneiderlin as the midfielder has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Midfielder Dusan Tadic (groin) is also not available, but Victor Wanyama returns from suspension.
Forward Jay Rodriguez has started some training after his serious knee injury, but goalkeeper Fraser Forster is a long-term absentee.
Opta facts
Saints have now recorded their best ever Premier League points haul (57), despite having four games to play.
Sunderland have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games (W1 D4 L5).
Dusan Tadic is one of only two players to get a hat-trick of assists in a PL game this season; he did it in the reverse fixture against Sunderland (Puncheon v West Ham the other).
Ronald Koeman’s side have picked up just one point from their last four Premier League away matches.
The Black Cats have scored just five goals in their last 10 league outings and never more than once in a single game in this run.
Merson's prediction
I watched Sunderland last week, and they're having a right go. They did well at Stoke, but the games are running out.
Sunderland have to win before they play Arsenal and Chelsea in the last two games of the season, and the pressure is really on them here. This is potentially the biggest game of the lot.
But they open the game up, and not to their advantage... this will play into Southampton's hands.
PAUL PREDICTS 1-3 (18/1 on Sky Bet)
Betting
Southampton travel to the Stadium of Light with odds of 19/20 to pick up three points and maintain their hopes of a top-six finish (8/11). Sunderland are in much greater need of the three points though, and they’re 3/1 for a home win and 23/10 to draw.
Their odds on staying up are against them (9/4) as they’re expected to be relegated along with Queens Park Rangers (1/33) and Burnley (1/16). Graziano Pelle has rediscovered his scoring touch and is 7/4 to score in an away win, and Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson has backed the Italy international to score first in a 2-0 win for Saints at 25/1.
