* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Does your Saturday plan feature watching already-relegated Fulham face-off against a Southampton team that at one stage seemed top-four contenders and now are just three points off not even being the best Premier League club on the south coast? Did you read that first paragraph like a telemarketing intro?
If the answer to both of those questions is yes, you need to seek help immediately. Unless, of course, you can validate the inclusion of said game because there’s a punt or two you fancy? That’s certainly why I’ll have my eyes peeled on it – and it’s so often the case that games with nothing to play for in them turn out to be entertaining television.
Don’t ask me how or why – but maybe it’s the fact that absolutely nobody cares. Scott Parker still has an inconsistent wardrobe, Austrian Ralph has signed a 40-year contract that will bankrupt Southampton if they sack him and the 22 players in question will only be keen to share the photos of themselves ‘in-action’ on Instagram after the final whistle.
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Saturday 3pm: Southampton v Fulham
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League
Short-Price Punt: Southampton to Win
Oh, when I said it’d be entertaining, I didn’t mean for Fulham fans. If anything, they had their renaissance at the wrong time just before the international break and when they came back, Aleksandar Mitrovic had already ruined every Irish man and woman’s dreams and had nothing left to accomplish.
Southampton are one of those sides that only end up producing when they absolutely need to. And while that was never going to be enough to keep them in the hunt for top four, it’s a good indication that they’ll always get by.
In this situation, the shackles are off and their talent will actually be allowed to relax in a Southampton Win. That usually spells trouble when the opposition have no desire to track runs.
Value Play: Southampton (-1)
I never tip handicaps because they’re generally a misconception for punters. The prices never truly reflect the likelihood in my experience, but in this situation, I do think that the Saints could hit Fulham for any number simply because when they’re relaxed and in a groove, Hasenhuttl has them drilled enough to create countless chances.
Oh, that, and the fact they’ve got the most clinical striker outside the top six on their books too. Southampton (-1) is my value play here.
Long Shot: Southampton Over 3.5 Goals
I just can’t fight the urge to tell you they’re going to absolutely hammer Fulham, particularly as the away side’s approach is built around patience and moving off the ball. The impetus to do that is gone, and if you attempt it on autopilot, you generally lose the ball in your own final third – handing quick players one-on-ones all the time.
Southampton have scored twice or more in 14 of their Premier League games this season – which is a fairly seismic total for a team who were being spoken about as relegation contenders up until a fortnight ago. And, coming off the back of a 3-1 win, I can see the momentum rolling to end the year like it did last season. Our long shot here is Southampton Over 3.5 Goals.
Tips for Southampton v Fulham
Short-Price Punt: Southampton to Win
Value Play: Southampton (-1)
Long Shot: Southampton Over 3.5 Goals
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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