For Southampton, this has been a successful season. Victory at home to Stoke could see them rise to eighth place and close in on a top-half finish. For a team struggling in the third tier not so long ago that would represent remarkable progress. Their form of late has been slightly patchy - a threatened challenge for European football has fallen by the wayside - but the impressive 3-0 dismantling of Fulham last weekend is one that will fill the St Marys crowd with confidence as they cheer Mauricio Pochettino's side on. Adam Lallana will be itching to further cement his place on the summer plane to Brazil. Stoke have more worrying issues to contend with. Mark Hughes saw his side overcome Man United 2-1 last week but they remain only three points off the relegation zone despite a more enterprising style of play this season. Only five points from 12 games away from home is a cause for concern, and it is unlikely they will get any more this weekend. Prediction - 2-0 Southampton win.
I am from Bangor, aged 24, and possess an MA in Journalism from The University Of Ulster. I have had work published in the Belfast Telegraph and interviewed several local footballers and Olympic athletes. I also run my own sports blog, 'Sporting Thought' in addition to contributing to What Culture.
