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Southampton v Leicester
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Date: 15th September
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Competition: Championship
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Kick off: 20:00
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Watch live: Sky Sports Football
We have you sorted with a Southampton v Leicester bet builder. A Premier League fixture for the last nine seasons, including one of the most famous results of Premier League history, it has been all-change for both clubs as a result of their demise back into the second tier.
Ralph Hassenhuttl and Brendan Rodgers were synonymous with these clubs for many of the recent seasons of their Premier League existence. They were the respective managers of the famous 0-9 in 2019, but both were removed as the reality of their situations dawned on the ownership. Some fans and observers may say that they were harshly treated, some may say that they were kept in their jobs for too long. Only someone with the powers of Dr. Strange would be able to peer into different timelines to see what might have happened in different circumstances, but this reality saw both clubs finish the season in the bottom three of the Premier League.
It is Russell Martin and Enzo Maresca who sit in the hot seats now. Both men began well in the league, but both also suffered defeats just before the international break. In truth, these defeats were coming, for different reasons. Neither Southampton nor Leicester have convinced in the Championship, despite their positive points totals.
But this should still be a high-quality EFL affair. Between the squads, there are countless players that could make the difference. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is leading the midfield for Leicester, Adam Armstrong is Southampton’s biggest goal threat, Callum Doyle will be a key member of Leicester’s rearguard, and Gavin Bazunu will attempt to keep the ball out for Saints. All of these men enjoyed stellar spells in the EFL previously and need to prove that they are capable now of getting their team back into the Premier League.
With the quality on offer, but also the uncertainty of the early days of both managerial reigns, there are plenty of interesting betting angles that appeal. This can form the basis of a couple of good betting angles for our Southampton v Leicester Bet Builder. This preview has an intriguing 3/1 shot and a bigger priced alternative at 22/1, levelling up on the original angles, to take a look at.
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Russell Martin’s pass-masters lacking in other areas
At this stage, the philosophy of Russell Martin is no secret. He wants this Southampton team to keep the ball, rotate it, probe the opposition defence, and, eventually, work their way through with a change of pace or an overload.
One of the problems that Martin has encountered in his previous jobs, at MK Dons and Swansea, is that those tactics have been failed too many times by well-executed defensive game plans. There is no doubt that when Martin’s football clicks it is highly effective and produces plenty of chances, and can also strangle the opposition. He also has a higher quality of players at Southampton than he had at both MK Dons and Swansea to try and achieve success with.
The recruitment of Ross Stewart, when fit, will certainly help to remedy some issues going forward, though it’ll be interesting to see how a player of his profile fits into the game plan. Martin called his players out after the defeat to Sunderland just before the break. He questioned their attitude slightly, suggesting that Sunderland were perhaps hungrier to get the result. What will the effect of this be?
Southampton team news
Gavin Bazunu has, so far, been trusted to develop with the gloves. There have been some calls for him to be replaced but he is likely to remain in goal for the time being. Kyle Walker-Peters has enjoyed an excellent start to the season at right back and Ryan Manning will start at left back in a 4-3-3 system.
Jan Bednarek and Mason Holgate played the last game in central defence, but Taylor Harwood-Bellis may be selected ahead of Holgate if he is fully fit. It will be a choice between Flynn Downes and Shea Charles in the central midfield role, with Downes likely to get the nod. Will Smallbone and Stuart Armstrong are most likely to fill the midfield slots but Carlos Alcaraz could also be used there.
Ross Stewart is still recovering from injury so he will not feature here, Adam Armstrong is likely to lead the line with support from Sam Edozie. The other wide forward was Sekou Mara in the Sunderland game but Joe Aribo or Ryan Fraser could come in instead.
Will Cannon help misfiring Leicester forwards find their target?
The Leicester squad remains exceptionally strong after the transfer window. There are full internationals in almost every position in the team and strength in depth across the board. On the face of it, the results have put Leicester into a very good position as well. Winning the first four games has given Enzo Maresca some time to bed into the role without too much pressure being put onto him by the fanbase. However, the performances have been somewhat muddled.
In a way this is quite understandable. Maresca is still a rookie manager, and the squad has been under a state of uncertainty for a few months. This period between now and January will be key to allowing Maresca the time to develop his game plan with the set of players that he knows he has now.
The forward options are, individually, outstanding. Jamie Vardy is known to all, though he isn’t at the peak of his powers, Kelechi Iheanacho, Patson Daka, and, now, Tom Cannon give Leicester an abundance of riches. The difficulty has been working out how to get the best outcomes from those options, none have hit the ground running so far.
Leicester team news
Mads Hermansen has cemented himself as the first choice in goal ahead of Daniel Iversen and Danny Ward. The way that Maresca sets his teams up is fairly fluid, but we can expect a three-man defence with two holding midfielders ahead of them. Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard, and Callum Doyle were the choices before the window and all three seem to be available here.
There has been rotation in the central slots, but Harry Winks seems to have been a popular choice since his move. Wilfried Ndidi has been linked to hundreds of clubs, but remains a Leicester player for at least the first half of the season. Cesare Casadei could be an option, but given the type of game it is likely to be, the Italian will probably be an impact sub. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be given some licence to roam from whichever starting position he is given, possibly off the left, with Ricardo Pereira potentially holding the width on the right.
Tom Cannon is likely to be given time to integrate following his move, which means that Kelechi Iheanacho could lead the line, but under pressure from Daka and Vardy. The wide forwards get rotated heavily. Kasey McAteer has made a big impact, with Stephy Mavididi in pole position to play on the opposite side.
Southampton v Leicester Cheat Sheet
Here is our Cheat Sheet for the game, it holds all of the key stats and data that you’ll need to make informed bet builder picks on Paddy Power. It includes all of the markets including new ones like Goalkeeper Saves and Fouls Won.
We have used it to help make our bet builder predictions. Have a read through and you’ll be able to make some well-informed predictions for yourself if you like other selections more.
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ABC’s 3/1 Southampton v Leicester bet builder
🟨 Over 2.5 Southampton cards
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Odds: 2.0
The home side have been particularly feisty at home so far this season. The Norwich game was a fairly ridiculous affair with 11 cards dished out, seven to Southampton. This is obviously going to be an outlier in the season, but they also managed to get four in their last home game against QPR, including three in the opening 30 minutes.
With the manager’s comments about the commitment and winning second balls after the Sunderland game, and the preparation for this match, it feels really possible that the Saints will come out with a point to prove.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
🚀 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to have 2 or more shots
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Odds: 1.44
Dewsbury-Hall is a key attacking cog in the Leicester system. He began the season with seven shots and two goals against Coventry, and, granted, his shots haven’t remained as high as that throughout the season, but he has remained a threat.
Dewsbury-Hall hasn’t been out on international duty so will have been primed for this match and ready to come out of the blocks quickly.
He has taken three and four shots in matches where he has played 90 minutes, as well as the seven against Coventry, so half of the Championship matches played he has cleared the two or more line easily.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
🛑 Callum Doyle to commit 1+ fouls
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Odds: 1.29
The central defender is highly likely to play 90 minutes as the left-sided central defender for Leicester.
This is a really key position for Maresca as he has recently used the left-sided wing-back role to tuck inside and affect play centrally. This can leave Doyle a little bit exposed and having to cover a lot of ground.
Add to this the fact that Kyle Walker-Peters is by far the most fouled player in the Southampton team, 17 fouls against him in the last ten matches, double the next highest.
Doyle will likely be the player required to cover that space, and the fact that Doyle has averaged 2.29 fouls per 90 so far in his Leicester career this seems an excellent bet.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
ABC’s 22/1 Southampton v Leicester bet builder
🟨 Will Smallbone to be shown a card
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Odds: 4.50
With no higher lines available for the overs in the overall card market, it may be worth looking into the individual player markets.
Will Smallbone is a big price in this market. His potential midfield teammates are much shorter than him, but, despite him taking a yellow card earlier in the season the price hasn’t changed on the Saints schemer.
Smallbone is high on the list of Saints tacklers and foulers, despite him not playing as many minutes as the others, so he looks very overpriced here.
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🚀 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to have 3 or more shots
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Odds: 2.50
Dewsbury-Hall has cleared this line exactly the same number of times that he has cleared the two or more shot line.
Therefore, it is well worth taking on the three or more shots line, as well as, the two or more.
Southampton have been less than tight at the back and will likely allow shots from range, a Dewsbury-Hall speciality.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
🛑 Callum Doyle to commit 2+ fouls
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Odds: 1.80
Doyle’s fouls record in the Championship so far this season reads: 3, 1, 2, 5, 2, 3.
That means that he has hit this line in five out of six Championship matches.
Also, he has played the full match on every occasion so far this season so is clearly a favourite of Maresca at this stage.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
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