Match Pack: Saints vs Ipswich Town
After Carabao Cup victory in midweek, Southampton will be looking to bring that positive momentum into the Premier League, with Ipswich Town visiting St Mary's. Get set for the game with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Saints vs Ipswich Town
Premier League
St Mary's Stadium
Saturday 21st September, 3pm BST
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Sam Allison
Assistants: Scott Ledger, Mat Wilkes
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
VAR: Jarred Gillett
Assistant VAR: James Mainwaring
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
It's a matchup between two teams who know a lot about each other, having fought for Championship promotion last season. With both sides now in the Premier League, Saturday's game provides a big opportunity for a valuable three points.
Saints are still in search for the points their performances have deserved, with four defeats offering up a cruel reminder of the top division's fine margins. A match up against familiar foes in front of a strong home backing could provide the perfect setting for that unwanted record to change.
Ipswich have received praise from the media for their performances so far, sitting on two points in 17th place. Victory for Saints would see them leapfrog the Tractor Boys and seek to change the narrative in their favour.
TEAM NEWS
Russell Martin confirmed that his side got through victory at Everton in the Carabao Cup "unscathed" in terms of new injuries.
However Will Smallbone and Kamaldeen both continue to be sidelined, with Martin not able to offer a timeline on either at this moment. The manager also confirmed a handful of first team players will feature for the Under-21s on Friday night to build up their fitness.
THE MANAGERS
Russell Martin: "It’s a big game against tough opposition as we found out last season, they’ve really improved. Does last season come into it? We looked at the games we played against them and looked at how they’ve approached the games so far this season. Then you’re looking for the best game plan you possibly can.
"It’ll be really interesting to come up against them again. We’re on our own journey, they’re on theirs. I think it’ll be very interesting."
Kieran McKenna: "We know over both games [last season] we had to work ever so hard because they’re a very good team on the ball and we’re going to have to do the same again.
"Southampton are a team that challenge every opponent that they come up against in terms of how they hold the ball in deep areas. We know we’ll have to answer some questions that they pose. It should be a good game. We’re going to have to show lots of the good qualities that we’ve shown across the opening four games."
TOP SCORERS
Southampton
Goals:
Cameron Archer 2
Harwood-Bellis, Sugawara, Fernandes, Amo-Ameyaw, Bree 1
Assists:
Dibling, Taylor 2
Fernandes, Lallana 1
Ipswich Town
Goals:
Delap, Szmodics, Chaplin, Al-Hamadi 1
Assists:
Davis, Johnson, Burgess, Townsend 1
ONES TO WATCH
Tyler Dibling: It's difficult to look past the 18-year-old after his impact on the last outing at St Mary's Stadium. His close ball control complemented with impressive strength for his age makes Dibling a nightmare for defenders when he goes on those mazy runs, something Manchester United found out to their expense when conceding a penalty last Saturday.
Although his minutes will still need to be monitored as he continues to develop and grow aware of the demands of the men's game, there's no doubting the excitement he brings to the St Mary's faithful when allowed to run at a defence.
Sam Szmodics: An opponent Saints will know plenty about, Szmodics got his deserved move to the Premier League this summer having scored 33 goals in 48 games last campaign for Blackburn Rovers.
Already off the mark with a goal at the Eithad no less, attacking midfielder Szmodics will be ready to prove himself at the highest level. Though Saints will take confidence in that none of those 33 strikes came against them last season.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 70
Saints: 23
Draws: 20
Ipswich: 27
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
April 2024: Ipswich 3-2 Saints (Adams, Armstrong)
September 2023: Saints 0-1 Ipswich
January 2015: Ipswich 0-1 Saints (Long) FA Cup
January 2015: Saints 1-1 Ipswich (Schneiderlin) FA Cup
March 2012: Saints 1-1 Ipswich (Lambert)
DID YOU KNOW?
- Saints fell to a 1-0 at home to Ipswich in the Championship last season but haven’t lost consecutive home league games against the Tractor Boys since April 1980.
- This is the latest two newly promoted teams are meeting in a Premier League season with both still looking for a first win since Fulham saw off West Bromwich Albion on gameweek seven of the 2020-21 campaign
KEEP UP TO DATE
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