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Two newly-promoted Premier League teams square off at St Mary's on Saturday afternoon as Southampton play host to Ipswich Town.
While the Tractor Boys secured automatic promotion from the Championship last season, the Saints bounced back to the top flight at the first attempt courtesy of a playoff final triumph over Leeds United.
Match preview
© Imago
Southampton are one of only two teams along with Everton who are yet to pick up a single point after four matches in the Premier League this season, most recently losing 3-0 at home to Manchester United last weekend.
However, the Saints supporters were given something to cheer about in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, as Russell Martin's men edged themselves beyond the third round with a 6-5 penalty-shootout victory over Everton at Goodison Park following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.
After Taylor Harwood-Bellis cancelled out Abdoulaye Doucoure's opener in normal time, goalkeeper Alex McCarthy became Southampton's hero on his 150th appearance for the club as he made the decisive save in the penalty shootout, thwarting Ashley Young to send the Saints marching into the fourth round for the fifth time in seven seasons.
Martin, who has been under some pressure to grind out positive results, is "so excited about what is to come" from his Southampton players and believes that claiming their first Premier League win of the season will allow everyone at the club to "relax".
With fixtures against Ipswich, Bournemouth and Leicester City in the coming weeks, Southampton will hope that their first victory is not too far around the corner, but success on Saturday is not a given as they have failed to win any of their previous three home meetings with Ipswich, including a narrow 1-0 loss in the Championship last season.
© Imago
Ipswich began their first Premier League campaign in 22 years with back-to-back losses defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City, before losing on penalties to League Two AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup, but they have since picked up two points from draws with Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion either side of the international break.
The Tractor Boys followed up a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham with a goalless stalemate with Brighton at the Amex Stadium last weekend, with goalkeeper Arijanet Muric producing six saves in a man-of-the-match display for the visitors.
Liam Delap came closest to scoring for Ipswich when he smacked the outside of the post in the second half, with head coach Kieran McKenna stating after the match that scoring in successive games - having previously netted against Fulham - would have been "legendary" for the 21-year-old summer signing.
Nevertheless, McKenna was pleased with the overall spirit of his Ipswich side and how resolute they were from a defensive perspective, and similar performances will be required if they wish to avoid the drop this term.
Ipswich will be confident of success on Saturday as they have won more Premier League games against Southampton (five) than they have versus any other club, while they did the double over the Saints in the Championship last season, winning by an aggregate score of 4-2.
Southampton Premier League form:
Southampton form (all competitions):
Ipswich Town Premier League form:
Ipswich Town form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
Southampton are still having to cope without long-term absentee Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), while winger Kamaldeen Sulemana (ankle) and midfielder Will Smallbone (hamstring) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Jack Stephens will serve the second of a three-match ban after his straight red card last weekend, so Taylor Harwood-Bellis is set to play at centre-back alongside Jan Bednarek, with Yukinari Sugawara and Kyle Walker-Peters operating as full-backs.
Flynn Downes and 18-year-old Tyler Dibling could both be recalled at the expense of Adam Lallana and Maxwel Cornet, while Martin will weigh up whether to start either Cameron Archer or Adam Armstrong in attack with Ben Brereton Diaz.
As for Ipswich, McKenna has revealed that he has "pretty much everyone" fit and available for selection on Saturday, although some players have been managing "knocks and niggles" this week.
A back four Axel Tuanzebe, Dara O'Shea, Jacob Greaves and Leif Davis is set to remain intact, while Kalvin Phillips and Sam Morsy continue to link arms in centre-midfield.
If McKenna wished to freshen up his attack, then he may consider handing either Chiedozie Ogbene or Jack Clarke a start on either flank, although Wes Burns and Sammie Szmodics could continue in the first XI.
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Walker-Peters;, Downes, Ugochukwu; Dibling, Fernandes; Brereton Diaz, Archer
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Muric; Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Clarke, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap
We say: Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town
Both Southampton and Ipswich will view Saturday's fixture as a good opportunity to collect their first three points of the season. The Tractor Boys arguably boast the psychological edge after doing the double over the Saints last season, but we feel that the hosts will find a way to claim at least a point at St Mary's on this occasion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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