Southampton vs Preston tips and predictions: Both teams to score at St Mary’s

Ipswich’s 96th-minute winner against Southampton on Easter Monday looked certain to be a fatal blow, but here we are admitting the Saints are in the mix for promotion.

Leeds and Leicester also came from behind to win that day, but all three teams' collapse has been remarkable with one from nine combined outings since.

Tuesday’s visitors Preston North End will need a miracle to make the play-offs so it wouldn’t be a shock to see a flat performance from Ryan Lowe’s side.

On the other hand, there’s nothing to lose, and he strikes us as the sort of person who might enjoy spoiling other people’s fun out of spite.

We included both teams to score in Tuesday’s EFL acca and at 4/5 (1.80) at the time of writing, that is a bet we’re happy to advise as a single.

This is the biggest game of the season for Rusell Martin’s side but just because it matters so much, it seems ludicrous to suggest they’ll shut the visitors out.

The previous seven visitors to St Mary’s have rattled in a combined 13 goals while both teams have scored in 15 of 21 since the season began.

North End blow hot and cold on their travels but they do score more often than now, and notably found the net away to Ipswich and Leeds.

These sides played out a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture and there have been over 3.5 goals with both teams scoring in six of eight meetings.

 

Key stats

- Southampton and Preston drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture
- Southampton’s matches since Christmas have averaged 4.2 goals
- Both teams have scored in 15 of Southampton’s 21 home matches
- Sixteen of the 21 visitors to St Mary’s have scored at least one goal

 

Suggested bets

Southampton win and both teams score

Both teams to score

Over 3.5 goals