11th Jan 2015 | Premier League
Easy To Defend Saints
Southampton have conceded 1 goal or less in 17 out of 20 league matches this season.
Nobody would have expected this to be a top-four clash five months into the season but Southampton have defied all pre-season predictions so far.
The success of the Saints has been built around a phenomenal defence. They have the best goals-against column in the Premier League (15) and have only conceded more than twice once in 20 outings. Indeed, they have only conceded more than one in 3 league matches.
This resilience is one of the main reasons why Southampton away matches have produced under 2.5 goals on 6 out of 9 occasions. On Sunday that’s an alluring 5/6 shot with Boylesports.
That bet gets better for us, if not Ronald Koeman, when you consider that the visitors will sorely miss recent goal hero Sadio Mane. The Senegalese striker had scored in his last three league outings before calf injury struck. With Graziano Pelle going off the boil, Southampton may struggle in the attacking third at Old Trafford.
Man United are favourites to win here but at a short price (17/20) they aren’t that appealing against a good side. Whatever happens it should be relatively tight and therefore the under 2.5 goals market appeals.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 11:08 11th Jan, 2015 but subject to change
