Premier League: Time to Shine for Two Underrated Teams

Southampton vs Leeds United

Now here are two Premier League sides who can be a bit Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

That is not to criticise either the South Coast favourites who have spent decades constantly having to rebuild after selling their best players or the Yorkshire club which only returned to top-flight football last year following a 16-year absence, much of which can be attributed to the long-term effects of financial mismanagement.

Indeed, since returning, both have produced Premier League 2021 highlights for their fans and some memorable scalps to savour.

While they find themselves just outside the bottom three in the early stages of the 2021/22 campaign, I expect both will have enough about them to secure a mid-table finish.

That will certainly be more than respectable given the financial gulf between them and many of the leading lights.

For now, the focus is firmly on climbing away from the drop zone – beginning this weekend.

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Talking Points

So far, it’s hard to realise Southampton have yet to win a league match.

Four draws and three defeats actually fail to highlight some notable showings, not least an early season draw with Manchester United – a match they could easily have won.

Much to my surprise, one media outlet this week suggested players are expecting coach Ralph Hasenhuttl to be sacked in the coming weeks.

That staggered me for the Austrian has been a real success story since arriving at the club in late 2018, ensuring they remain a team which develops young players with a shrewd eye for a bargain.

After another summer in which key men departed for pastures new, it’s hard to imagine anyone better than Hassenhuttl being available should he pushed out of the door.

Remember, he was successful at German club Ingolstadt before taking the helm at RB Leipzig – who he guided to a second-placed finish and first-ever Champions League campaign in his maiden season.

He then took Leipzig to a Europa League quarter-final the following season and a sixth-placed finish in the Bundesliga, only to fail to agree on a new contract and leave the club.

Likewise, it is the man in the dugout – or in this case hunched on his bucket seat – that takes much credit for the uptake in Leeds United’s fortunes.

Marcelo Bielsa’s nickname is El Loco Bielsa and he is known for his various eccentricities but the most visible is surely his habit of eschewing the dugout seats to get down low on his haunches, hands clasped between his knees.

Leeds United are determined to add more victories in their Premier League campaign in clash against Southampton — Diego Llorente celebrates scoring Leeds United’s first goal against Watford at Elland Road

He was a happier man last time out as Leeds finally gained their first league win over lightweight Watford.

Now he needs his Spanish stars to shine and his key men to return from injury to ensure a club which some tipped for a European spot at the start of the season head in an upwardly mobile trajectory.

With both clubs needing victory and both coached by managers with attacking footballing philosophies, this has all the hallmarks to be a very entertaining encounter on Saturday afternoon.

History

Traditionally, Leeds have held the edge over the Saints with 47 wins to Southampton’s 27 and a further 20 draws. That included a double for the Yorkshire club last season.

Goals from Patrick Bamford, Stuart Dallas, and Raphinha ensured they ran out 3-0 winners at Elland Road before Patrick Bamford and Tyler Roberts were on target in a 2-0 success on the south coast in the final week of the season.

Those successes were actually the first Leeds had managed against Southampton in the league since 2009 and their first meetings in the top-flight since 2004 when Brett Omerod and Kevin Phillips were the goal-getters in a 2-1 Southampton triumph.

Matt Kilgallon replied for Leeds who were relegated at the end of the campaign.

Betting Tip

	Southampton vs Leeds United	1X2 Draw @ 3.40
	October 16, 22:00 (GMT+8)

The SBOTOP Premier League 2021 betting odds actually edge towards the home side in this one.

Southampton can be backed 1X2 @ 2.36 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.12 along with First Half 1X2 @ 3.00, and First Half Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.49.

For Leeds to make it back-to-back top-flight wins, then how about Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.44 and 1X2 @ 2.85?

The opening 45 minutes odds are again appealing with First Half 1X2 @ 3.35 and First Half Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.06 among the options.

A re-run of the corresponding meeting last term – correct score 0-2 – is available @ 17.00.

Both teams have struggled to score goals so far this season, netting five and seven respectively. They have also conceded a fair few.

Despite assessing the options which include over 3.00 goals @ 2.19, Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.30, and 2-3 @ 1.99, I am going to go for honours even in this encounter.