Adkins to catch a break as Southampton can stop Swansea
Published:Nigel Adkins is teetering on the most unsteady of cliffs at present, but the visit of Swansea can allow him to hang on to his Southampton job for a while longer.
Southampton are 11/8 to beat Swansea and collect just a third victory of the campaign to move a step closer to climbing out of the bottom three.
Historically, this is a fixture that favours whoever is playing at home, with no away win in their last 12 meetings.
The big problem so far for Adkins has been in defence, with 28 goals shipped in the opening ten games, equalling the worst ever Premier League record at this stage.
Unsurprisingly, they have also been behind in every encounter thus far.
The Saints may be helped here by Swansea not regularly starting a recognised striker of late, with Michu tasked with the job of leading the line.
Therefore, he may prove slightly easier to mark and the onus will be on preventing service from the wide areas, especially from the improving Pablo Hernandez.
Swansea have started to find their feet again of late after a quiet few weeks and they fully deserved their point against Chelsea last time.
They are 19/10 to win this, with the draw a decent prospect at 23/10.
This is because Swansea have avoided defeat in every game this season in which they have found the target and a Saints clean sheet looks about as likely at present as Abou Diaby playing 20 games in a Premier League season for Arsenal.
Many punters will fancy goals at St Mary’s, but Swansea have only conceded once apiece against Manchester City and Chelsea, while they are without a goal in three successive outings on the road.
Going against the grain, under 2.5 goals may also be a wise investment at 6/5.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
