Huddersfield v Southampton
Date: 26/08/17
K.O: 15.00pm
Huddersfield host Southampton in one of four 15.00pm KO’s on Saturday, with David Wagner’s men keen to continue their winning start to Premier League life.
Wagner and Huddersfield have amassed six points from their first two games, the scalps of Crystal Palace and Newcastle giving them a firm footing to their Premier League campaign, whilst Southampton under Mauricio Pellegrino have taken four points from their first two fixtures: a 3-2 home win versus West Ham last weekend giving the Saints their first win of the campaign.
Huddersfield’s new signings Abdelhamid Sabiri and Florent Hadergjonaj are expected to not make Wagner’s match-day squad after having so recently arrived at the club, whilst Jonathan Hogg, Nahki Wells, Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Martin Cranie are expected to remain sidelined.
Southampton will have to make a late decision on whether Wesley Hoedt could start following his move from Lazio, whilst fellow Saints centre back Virgil Van Dijk will not be included as he continues to be linked with a move away from St Mary’s.
David Wagner spoke this week ahead of the fixture, stating:
“We’re happy with the six points.
“The only thing we really wanted to find out was do we really have a chance.
“We know this is only a start. It means more or less nothing. It doesn’t help us on Saturday.
“Southampton is the next level. It is different class, a different category in the Premier League.”
This will be a heavily contested game for both sides, though Huddersfield have started life in the Premier League with a spring in their step, and I’m backing David Wagner’s men to get another three points here on Saturday.
Prediction: Huddersfield 2 Southampton 1
Written by Tom Newman.
