Southampton and Swansea, the Saints and the Swans. We share quite a few traits. Both share a location as the centre of their countries' southern coast, both cities have around 250k inhabitants, and indeed both became cities in the 60s. We have beautiful nature surrounding our urban centres (the tree on Southampton's badge is a nod to the New Forest), and, as one-club cities, we share a fierce rivalry with a club that play in blue, a short drive to the east.

Both clubs have won one major cup trophy, and both clubs are led by young, ambitious managers, schooled in the Red Bull Salzburg philosophy.

The on-field histories are a bit different. Whereas the Swans have bounced around the leagues for almost all of our past, Southampton have been a mainstay in the top two divisions, with the majority being in the top level. Southampton have also made their mark internationally. Already linked through a maritime history, Basque student Juan Elorduy (below) happened to be on the south coast when his team, Athletic Bilbao were looking for new shirts. He picked up 50 red and white striped kits, and headed home. In that same year, 1910, Bilbao won their third Copa Del Rey, and use the same colours to this day. Further afield, Charles William Miller was born in Sao Paolo but was schooled in Southampton. He played for St. Mary's (now Southampton) and brought football back to Brazil upon his return. He is considered the father of football and rugby in the land of the palm trees.

In more recent times, the Saints were a founder member of the Premiership and would be a feature of the new league until relegation in 2004/05. They would return in 2012/13, a year after Swansea's promotion.

BBC Sport recently ran an article playfully asking if Hull City were already safe after gaining 7 points from three games. Spoiler alert, no new promoted sides have been relegated after such a fast start. However, they also looked at the reverse. Coventry have it all to do after three losses from their opening three games. The only promoted side to pick up no points in the first three fixtures and survive? Southampton in that 2012/13 season, thanks to the guidance from the incoming Mauricio Pochettino. They were not so lucky in 2024/25 under Russell Martin, and, after also losing their opening three games, would end the season with 12 points, barely scraping past the record low of 11 points set by Derby County in 2007/08.

During their Premier League years, Southampton would create their own headlines. Shane Long holds the record for the fastest opening goal, scoring after 7.69 seconds against Watford in 2019, and Sadio Mane holds the record for the fastest hat-trick, which came in a scarcely believable 2 minutes 56 seconds against Aston Villa in 2015. In less good hat-trick news, Southampton have twice lost a Premier League game despite one of their players scoring a hat-trick — a record no other club shares. Matt Le Tissier found himself on the losing side despite bagging plenty against Oldham in 1993 and Nottingham Forest in 1995. Le Tiss was also a free-kick expert, but not in the same tier as James Ward-Prowse, who sits in second place in the record books with 17 free-kick goals (curiously 13 of which were in away matches), only one behind David Beckham's record of 18. Ward-Prowse is back at the Saints, so who knows, he could add to his record in the near future.

At the other end of the pitch, the club have twice been humiliated 9-0. The first time was at home against Leicester City in October 2019, a game in which Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick in a man-of-the-match performance. History repeated itself at Old Trafford in February 2021 in a match officiated by Mike Dean. It's a shame United did not break the record with a 10th goal, as that would have given the preening Mike Dean something to outdo Vardy's on his own podcast.

In cup competitions, Southampton have featured in four FA Cup finals, the latest being in 2002/03. A team featuring James Beattie, Wayne Bridge, and Welsh goalkeeper Paul Jones off the bench for the injured Antti Niemi, lost to a single Robert Pires goal, as Arsenal retained the cup. Last season would see the Saints humble quadruple-hunting Gunners 2-1 in the quarter-final stage to set up another trip to Wembley. The semi-final is as far as they would reach, but their one FA Cup victory came in a narrow 1-0 win in 1976 against Manchester United. The same opponent would win their League Cup final in 2016/17, with their only other final appearance in that competition being a loss to Nottingham Forest in 78/79.

That Arsenal giant killing came during a surge in form under Tonda Eckert. Since the German's first home league game in charge in early November, his team have won more home points than anyone else, which highlights what a test it will be for the Swans this evening. The two teams have started the season positively but in different ways. Swansea's defensive record is their best at this stage since the 1978-79 season, while Southampton have scored and conceded in every league game so far.

In the opening league game, the Swans overturned years of hurt to win away at Stoke for only the second time in 16 years. We have a similarly abysmal record against tonight's opponents, winning just once in 16 years. That win came in February 2015, a game memorable for a Jonjo Shelvey screamer, which set up a daylight robbery of a 1-0 win. It came a few days after Jack Cork had swapped England's South Coast for Wales'. Tonight's game could feature three players who moved in the other direction, namely Ryan Manning, Nathan Wood, and Flynn Downes.

Around 750 Swans fans will be there tonight and for many from the city it will be up to an eight hour round trip - for many more further west a whole lot longer.

The Swans have not scored in four games at St Mary's. I fancy us to break that run, but perhaps not get all three points. My prediction; 2-2. Enjoy the game, Swans fans.

Read our pre match from yesterday
⚽️ Toughest test ?

Artwork by Xolin