PL2 Preview: Saints vs Blackburn

THE MATCH

Southampton B vs Blackburn Rovers U23s
Snows Stadium
Premier League 2
Sunday 18th October, 2pm GMT
Behind closed doors

It’s Saints B’s second fixture at Snows Stadium this season, following their defeat on gameday two to Chelsea.

Their last Premier League 2 match-up saw a narrow defeat at current league leaders Tottenham Hotspur; the hosts scoring late after Josh Sims had equalised for Saints.

Blackburn are enjoying an unbeaten start to the season, beating both Manchester City and Leicester in their opening three games.

Their last match was a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United; Connor McBride and Brad Lyons scoring for the hosts, who were denied by a Joe Hugill equaliser for United four minutes from time.

LAST MEETING

The two sides met in February of this year in Premier League 2 at the Lancashire County FA ground.

In a performance manager Dave Horseman described as “outstanding at times”, Saints came back from a goal down and looked on course for a deserved three points with time ticking down.

Will Ferry equalised at the back post following a Kazeem Olaigbe cross on 64 minutes, before Dan N’Lundulu put the visitors ahead three minutes later.

But Rovers earned themselves a point with five minutes to go; Jack Vale converting from the penalty spot as the game finished 2-2.

MANAGER’S NOTES

Horseman has been keen to point out the positives in what has been a difficult season so far for his side but is under no illusions that improvements still need to be made.

“We have had really good periods in all of the game so far this season,” he said. “But we need to make sure we are clinical in both boxes to turn our positive performances into good results.

“Blackburn have started well and are near the top of the division. They’re a good pressing team with some really good individual players.

“Their striker [McBride] is the joint top scorer in the league right now so that is something we have to guard against too.”