Pep Due Another Tough Afternoon

Southampton find themselves priced up as close to 4/1 (15/4 BetVictor) shots to win the late kick-off on Saturday despite a record at St Mary’s Stadium against Man City which suggests they should be nothing of the sort (W3 D2 L2).

The odds might make sense if City were at their pinnacle now and if Saints had drastically faded - but that isn’t the case. Both are broadly around the levels they were at when the hosts won this fixture 4-2 last term and drew 1-1 at the Etihad in November this season.

It’s true Claude Puel’s side won’t finish 6th again but they have reached a cup final and probably won’t be worse than 9th in the final analysis, so they are decent. Back to back wins over West Brom and Palace will give them confidence to boot.

Across all competitions, City have won just twice away in their last six, and those successes came against Boro and Sunderland. This will be much tougher.