Thomas Frank refused to take Southampton’s struggles as a right as Brentford put together to go to the Premier League’s backside facet on Saturday.
Southampton have managed only one win and 6 factors in 19 video games within the Premier League this season (W1 D3 L15) after Sunday’s slim 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.
That loss marked Ivan Juric’s second recreation in cost, although Brentford supervisor Frank is nicely conscious of the menace that Southampton – who sacked Russell Martin final month – will pose at St. Mary’s Stadium.
“It’s a great staff. I do know they’re backside of the league however nothing is straightforward within the Premier League, we all know that,” Frank stated on Thursday.
“I’ve massive respect for Southampton. We have to carry our ‘A’ recreation and be unbelievably centered however, if we’re, I consider we will get the three factors.”
Southampton are already some 10 factors adrift of security, although Brentford come into this recreation off the again of a 3-1 lack of their very own to Arsenal on Wednesday.
“They are going to win video games earlier than the tip of the season, we simply want to ensure we’ve got performed our half to keep away from that taking place in opposition to us,” Frank added.
Winter work pic.twitter.com/2aa73hodfx
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 2, 2025
Juric insists his facet are up for the struggle as he goals to drag off an inconceivable escape from a direct return to the Championship.
“They’re actually motivated and need to change this second,” Juric stated in his pre-match press convention.
“They know they must be higher than earlier than and put extra power into being extra scientific to win the sport.”
Like Frank, Juric reserved reward for his opponents, regardless of them failing to win an away recreation but within the 2024-25 season.
“Brentford are actually good,” he added. “They’ve had their coach for a very long time and you understand what they need to do. Tactically, they’re actually good.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Southampton – Tyler Dibling
Tyler Dibling has scored two Premier League objectives this season for Southampton, a tally that makes him their joint prime scorer.
Just one teenager has scored extra occasions in a Premier League marketing campaign for Southampton than the 18-year-old – Matt Oakley in 1996-97 (three).
Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo
Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring in opposition to Arsenal on Wednesday, beginning the brand new yr in related vogue to his spectacular 2024 showings.
Certainly, 33 of Brentford’s 52 Premier League objectives in 2024 noticed both Mbeumo or Yoasne Wissa concerned within the aim (63%) – that pair have turn into a dream duo for Frank to work with.
@Bmbeumo19‘s eleventh of the season tonight pic.twitter.com/ZiEHn5YcOI
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 1, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
The Opta supercomputer’s pre-match simulations struggled to separate this pair, suggesting a draw – or slim victory – is the most probably end result on Saturday.
Nonetheless, Brentford will fancy their probabilities right here contemplating Southampton have misplaced every of their final 4 Premier League video games in opposition to them, conceding three objectives in three of these matches.
Brentford have additionally received their final three in a row in opposition to sides within the relegation zone, scoring 5 objectives in every of their final two wins – a 5-1 win over Luton in April final season and a 5-3 victory versus Wolves in October this season.
It’s certainly not a foregone conclusion, although, given Brentford have misplaced 17 of their final 23 away Premier League matches (W3 D3).
Frank’s facet are winless in all 9 away video games this season (D2 L7), too, with no facet choosing up fewer factors on the street than Brentford’s two this top-flight marketing campaign.
Saturday will nonetheless be a tricky process for the hosts – they’ve misplaced their opening two Premier League matches underneath Juric, who may turn into the seventh Southampton boss to open with three straight league defeats.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Southampton win – 35.5%
Draw – 25.9%
Brentford win – 38.6%