Southampton vs Preston North End Prediction 06.03.2024

• Competition: England &— Championship
• Date: Wednesday, 6th, March 2024
• Kickoff: 19:45 UK / 20.45 CET
• Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium (Southampton)

Aiming to overcome their consecutive home struggles, Southampton will engage in a vital Championship confrontation against playoff contenders, Preston North End, at St Mary’s Stadium.

Southampton vs Preston North End Betting Tips: BTTS

The three-game losing streak, which included a 0-3 defeat by Premier League leaders Liverpool in the FA Cup round of 16, was dramatically ended. The Saints had to twice overcome a deficit to eventually secure a 4-3 victory in a seven-goal thriller against Birmingham. The winning goal was scored by Joe Aribo in the final moments of stoppage time.

The Southampton team breathed a sigh of relief after their comeback victory on Saturday, as it allowed them to maintain a manageable five-point gap from the top two teams. However, it appears their defense has been underperforming in recent weeks. They’ve conceded at least two goals in each of their last four games across various competitions.

Despite recent back-to-back losses and defensive weaknesses, the Hampshire team is determined to rekindle their powerful attacking prowess. This was the same flair that procured them 11 consecutive victories and an impressive 35 goals. They aim to use this as they continue to strive for the automatic promotion spots.

Preston North End, a team that has drastically improved their performance since mid-January with only one loss in their last nine Championship games, is set to play at St Mary’s Stadium midweek. Their recent hard-fought goalless draw against Hull City extended their unbeaten streak to an impressive seven matches (W4, D3).

The Lilywhites’ unbeaten run is largely due to their exceptional performance in the final third of the pitch. In all but one of their last six second-tier matches, they have managed to put at least two balls past the opposition’s defence. This puts them in a strong position to challenge a promotion-seeking team that has shown defensive weaknesses on Wednesday.

Admittedly, Southampton boasts an incomparably stronger squad on paper, but their recent struggles to secure maximum points make them a shaky favorite midweek, especially as they face off against an opponent who has become a tough nut to crack. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that the Lancashire side held the mighty Saints to an exhilarating 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, and another entertaining affair packed with goals from both ends would be just fine.