Leeds United result at Southampton predicted by Sky Sports pundit amid ‘messy’ risk with Russell Martin ‘under real pressure’
David Prutton has predicted Leeds United will continue their strong run of form by heaping more pressure on Russell Martin at Southampton this week.
The Sky Sports pundit said in his predictions column on their website on 28 September that the Whites front four are a “joy to behold” and should they turn it on at St. Mary’s on Saturday it could “get messy” for the Saints.
He has gone for a 3-1 win for Daniel Farke’s side as they look to capitalise on the struggles at Southampton where Prutton says “they don’t seem to be learning their lessons in defence”.
Prutton said: “Russell Martin is under real pressure now. Four defeats on the bounce is unacceptable for Southampton in this league. Even if it is early days. They don’t seem to be learning their lessons in defence, either.
“Leeds will be keen to capitalise. Their front four in full flow is a joy to behold, and if there is an early goal it could get messy at St Mary’s. Away win.”
Overwhelming?
That Leeds United are roundly expected to go to the south coast and trounce a side in a difficult situation is almost asking for trouble, and is probably why Farke was at pains to suggest it might actually be the “worst” time to visit in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
On paper, the form of each side and their relative strengths suggest that the Whites can secure another strong result, but the manager is clearly making plain to his players that it is no foregone conclusion.
It wasn’t long ago that there were growing fears over what might become of the season at Elland Road, but a strong end to the transfer window and a six-game unbeaten run has turned the atmosphere around in a big way.
Southampton have gone through the opposite switch in that time and left Martin’s job in question, but as Farke pointed out ahead of the match the Championship is a long campaign and all sides tend to have periods of struggle.
The last time the German took his side south to face a side who were certain to be up for the visit of Leeds he came away from Millwall with an excellent 3-0 win.
He’ll be looking for more of the same this weekend, but faces some selection decisions after another victory by the same scoreline against Watford last week, with more in-form players than places in the starting XI right now.
In other Leeds United news, there is one man who is out in the cold at Elland Road and Farke has now confirmed he has no role under him.