Southampton were dramatic victors at Birmingham City last weekend, as they clinched a stoppage-time winner to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive.
After a shaky few weeks on the South Coast, Russell Martin‘s side have the wind in their sails again heading into the final 11 games of the season.
The Saints play host to Preston North End tonight and victory would see them move two points behind Leeds United and five from second-placed Ipswich Town.
So it’s almost must-win territory for Southampton, as they welcome a Preston side battling for a spot in the play-offs.
Southampton must be wary of Will Keane
Ryan Lowe’s North End are in a rich vein of form and will pose a real threat to the automatic promotion hopefuls this evening.
The Lilywhites are fifth in the form table, having gone unbeaten in their last six games, winning four of them.
Saints will have to be particularly wary of Will Keane, who is enjoying a marvellous season back at Deepdale.
The former Manchester United starlet has already netted 12 times in the Championship, which puts him on course towards the goal tally Lowe expected of him at the start of the season.
Speaking in August, the Preston boss said: “Will is capable of adding 14 goals to our team this season. That’s how many he got last season and, while I don’t want to put pressure on him, I have faith in his ability to excite our fans.
Russell Martin must stop service into Will Keane
So, how will Martin set up this evening in order to prevent the prolific Preston forward receiving service?
Well, quite simply, they must look to dominate the ball and retain possession for much of the affair. In doing so, they’ll starve the visitors of creating any quality chances for Keane, who only needs one.
Flynn Downes, a West Ham United loanee, must start if they’re to achieve that tactic. No other Saints midfielder has a higher pass completion rate than his phenomenal 94.3 per cent, as per WhoScored.
The 25-year-old is imperative to Martin’s possession-based brand of football and is expected to partner Will Smallbone in the middle tonight.
Smallbone was exceptional in the win at St Andrew’s on Saturday, laying on two assists for David Brooks and Che Adams in the space of four minutes.
So with that said, the aforementioned midfield pairing could be the key to defeating Preston tonight.