What do you get when you have two teams who have shipped a combined nine goals in their previous Premier League encounters? A good laugh, first and foremost.
Southampton and Burnley have hardly started their league campaigns on fire, and while there’s more evidence to suggest that Southampton are a disaster than their Lancashire counterparts – simply because they’ve played a game more – Burnley should have equal concern, giving up four to Leicester last week.
The Saints would have been a trendy pick to start this season given that they’ve extended Ralph Hassenhuttl stay and are forging somewhat of an identity. But it hasn’t quite worked out like that, as this experiment with a high back line gives more ammo to yer Da for shouting that English clubs need English managers.
Sean Dyche and Burnley are at somewhat of a crossroads with their mutual interests. You feel that anything underwhelming this year could be the catalyst for change at one of the most stable clubs in the country, and a loss to dire Southampton could spell trouble.
Come to think of it – if this is a draw – could they just swap managers at full-time? Here are your three best bets for this tasty 8pm kickoff.
Burnley: Draw No Bet
I don’t believe for a second that I can be confident in backing Burnley to win this game of football – or any game of football really. But at the prices, given they’re at home, this does seem strange pricing at least.
Chris Wood remains one of the most understated strikers in the top tier, and while the midfield pairing of Josh Brownhill and Ashley Westwood can look a little jaded at stages, the influx of youth in Jimmy Dunne might inspire some level of belief that there’s a corner to be turned.
This has all the making of a game that Southampton will be dissecting next week, wondering how they didn’t win it – instead losing it – and wondering what went wrong. Well Ralph, this is Burnley and you must leave logic at the town boundaries.
Kevin Long to Score Anytime
Southampton love zonal marking. Sean Dyche eats zonal marking for dinner, after six cans and a pack of pork scratchings.
If you look back at Jimmy Dunne’s goal against Leicester, it was Kevin Long’s run that was problematic for the Foxes and he got quite a leap.
While I don’t believe there’ll be many goals in this one, somewhat nullifying the value here, it seems the most likely route to goal for a home side who practice very little else all week.
Danny Ings to have Two or More Shots On Target
You can sense the frustration from here.
Danny Ings is going to carry Southampton at various points this year, and if they’re tailed off come January, they’re probably going to have to consider selling him.
Maybe they look back on this occasion and see his true value – with him being the only outlet on a night where they lose to a team they should absolutely be beating.
* Prices on our snazzy new bet widget are bang up to date.
Burnley v Southampton tips summary:
Burnley: Draw No Bet
Kevin Long to Score Anytime
Danny Ings to have Two or More Shots On Target
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