SOUTHAMPTON will be looking to continue their min-revival when they square off with Aston Villa at St Mary's in the Premier League on Saturday.
Nathan Jones' Saints tenure had got off to a shaky start, but three successive wins have suddenly flipped the mood music on the south coast.
After winning at Crystal Place in the FA Cup before claiming the League Cup scalp of Manchester City, Southampton gave their Premier League survival hopes a massive shot in the arm by earning a 2-1 win at Everton last weekend.
While Saints remain bottom of the Premier League table, they are now within just one point of safety going into this weekend's fixture with Aston Villa.
As for Villa, they have been on an upward trajectory since appointing Unai Emery manager, with the Spaniard steering his side to four wins, a draw and a loss across his opening six top-flight fixtures in charge.
Last time out, the Villians moved up to 11th place in the table courtesy of a 2-1 win over Leeds, on a night where my main play at Villa Park paid out.
Outright Betting
Southampton, who have won just one of their nine Premier League home games this season, head into their latest St Mary's match-up as 19/10 (Bet 365) underdogs while the draw is an unfancied 5/2 (UniBet).
Aston Villa emerged victorious from September's reverse fixture and the visitors are 6/4 (Bet 365) to claim top honours on Saturday.
Betting Angles
There isn't a huge amount of appeal in the 1×2 market here but backing both teams to score looks like a tempting alternative angle of attack at 17/20 (UniBet).
Southampton have been entertaining Premier League crowds all season, with 12 of their 19 fixtures thus far yeilding profit for BTTS backers, including seven of their nine outings at St Mary's.
While Saints struck in each of those seven home matches, they have failed to keep their sheets clean in front of their own supporters this season so far, as well as towering 18 of their overall 19 top-flight tussles this term to date.
I'm therefore happy to back a fast-improving Aston Villa side to strike on Saturday, something that they have managed to do in each of their six Premier League games under Unai Emery's guidance.
That being said, Villa have just a solitary shutout to their name since the Spaniard replaced Steven Gerrard, leaking at least one goal in six of their seven matches across all competitions, one of which was against lowly Stevenage in the FA Cup.
What's more, Both Teams to Score would have been a winning wager in six of those seven contests, so going for goals at both ends at St Mary's on Saturday seems like a sensible solution at 17/20 (UniBet).
Elsewhere, I'll also head to PaddyPower‘s To Score Or Assist market where the 17/10 on Southampton's James Ward-Prowse holds appeal.
The Saints set piece all-rounder has either scored or set up a goal in seven of his 19 Premier League appearances this season, so he looks worthy of a small investment to add to that tally here.
This English Premier League match between Southampton and Aston Villa will be played on Jan 21, 2023 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Southampton vs Aston Villa prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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