x

Southampton V Wolverhampton Wanderers The Preview

If Saints are to get the 3 points to save them the embarrassment of being the worst ever Premier League side, then this is their best chance of doing so in the remainder of the season, but Wolves come to St Mary's fighting for their Premier League life.

Wolves arrive in Southampton knowing that if they were to win, then they would take a gigantic step towards safety, they start the day 6 points ahead of Ipswich Town who host Nottingham Forest on Saturday & Leicester City who are 3rd from bottom, and are at home to Manchester United on Sunday, so there is a good chance that if Wolves lose at St Mary's they could suddenly be only 3 points clear of the drop zone.

But on paper at least they are the best chance of Saints getting points in the final 9 games of the season, so hopefully we will be up for it.

The hope for us is that their desperate need for a win will be a millstone round the Wolves players neck and that will make them nervous, this will mean that they can't play with the freedom needed to win football games.

On the other hand, with our chances of survival being as close to zero as you can get, we can play without fear.

The good news is that the visitors will be without their best player and top scorer Matheus Cunha who is suspended, he is their top scorer with 13 Premier League goals, over a third of their total, only 6 Premier League players have scored more this season, this is a big boost for Saints.

From our perspective, Ivan Juric seemed to pick a much better balanced team up at Liverpool, hopefully that trend will continue against Wolves, in simple terms if you play players in their true positions and in a formation that they are comfortable with, then you have a better chance of winning football games.

But the big problem is that Wolves have a good record against Saints since returning to the Premier League, in their 5 visits we have lost the last 4 games, bizarrely leading at half time in all of them and we have won just once, that being their first visit of the run back in 2018/19.

So the their recent record doesn't look good for us, but records are their to be ended and this could well be the game to do it.

If Juric gets out a team with a strong spine then we could win the game and get those 3 points on the board.

But to do that the Southampton supporters need to be on their top form as well as the team, we need the spirit shown in our only two Premier League wins this season, the fans at Ipswich were magnificent and also at home to Everton.

We have been a little shell shocked at home of late, but it needs the Northam red wall to lead the way and the rest of the ground to follow.

All that matters now on the pitch this season is getting those 3 points, this is our best chance to get them, lets get some pride back, both in the team and the supporters, especially the supporters.

What to read next:

Hanging in there - and attacking the game: Mousinho's Pompey message ahead of Ipswich clash
Many Pompey fans are fearing the worst as the Blues gear up to take on in-form Ipswich at Fratton Park on Sunday - but boss John Mousinho is putting a brave face on the prospect of the clash.
Portsmouth 1 - 1 Queens Park Rangers - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Play forward with purpose - what Mousinho wants to see more of after Pompey's draw at Derby
John Mousinho liked what he saw as Pompey claimed a well-deserved point from rheir visit to Derby.
We can't feel sorry for ourselves - Mousinho message to Pompey strugglers ahead of Blackburn clash
John Mousinho says making wholesale team changes can be 'over the top' - and has indicated he does not want to do that when Pompey host Blackburn in what feels like a must-win game on Saturday.
Swansea City 1 - 0 Portsmouth - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Pompey fans' moans and groans are understandable - so can team silence them?
John Mousinho says some 'moans and groans' from fans are underatandable as Pompey struggle for results and form - so now he wants his team to halt such reactions by getting back on the right Championship path.
Win your individual battles - the message to Pompey players ahead of Bristol City clash
Win your battles - it's what Pompey fans will be demanding of those selected to face Bristol City this weekend - and it's what John Mousinho will be telling each man in blue too.
Portsmouth 3 - 1 Millwall - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Key Pompey trio ready to return - but which of them will walk into starting line-up?
John Mousinho is set to have three key members of his squad available after injury when Pompey entertain Millwall on Saturday - but are all three guaranteed starts?
'Not going to be too negative' - Pack looks on Pompey's bright side
Marlon Pack has played more of a role in Pompey's season so far than many thought he would - and his intention is to carry on being at the centre of things, literally.