- Team form: Southampton have failed to win any of their last 2 home games against Millwall.
- League positions: Millwall top the Championship with six points from two matches, Southampton are 24th with -1 points after two matches.
Millwall can make life difficult for Saints
Millwall have four wins and a draw in their last five matches, winning four in a row, but this trip to Southampton will be a stern test for the Championship new boys. The Lions have played three games, drawing 1-1 at QPR in the EFL Cup before winning on penalties in the EFL Cup, before beating Bristol City 2-0 away from home and trouncing Norwich City 3-0 at home in the Championship.
They have been compact and aggressive, with a quick transition game and fast wide players who run over the top to spring Josh Coburn into attacking play. He is their focal point up top and has two Championship goals in two, while Tairyk Arconte has added a new spark with his energy and two of Millwall's five goals across the last five games.
Southampton have the edge at home
Southampton's Tonda Eckert sets up in a different way, he has the Saints playing a possession-based game first and foremost, controlling the ball and trying to open up space at the back with the odd burst of vertical pace.
Cyle Larin is their main man, leading the scoring charts in the Championship with two goals in two games. The Saints have beaten Colchester United 2-0 in the EFL Cup, lost 2-1 at Watford and beaten Stoke 3-1 in the Championship in their three games to date.
Southampton are unbeaten in one home game in the Championship (W1), averaging 3.00 goals per game and 1.00 goals against, while Millwall are unbeaten in their one Championship away game, averaging 2.00 goals for and 0.00 goals against. The Lions will be up for this game.
Expect a tactical clash
Tactical outlook
This is a clash of two different styles and it will be a sharp, tactical battle at St Mary's on Saturday. The visitors have been perfect away from home in the Championship this season, and they know how to make things difficult for Southampton in this fixture, as the hosts have failed to win two of their last two home games against the Lions.
Odds and prediction
The odds here suggest a pretty comfortable win for Southampton, but the market underestimates the visitors form and their perfect away record this term.
- We'll take the hosts to squeeze it at 1.84, as the draw is 3.5 and Millwall are 4.1.
- However, there should be plenty of chances in this game, with both teams to score at 1.73 and over 2.5 goals at 1.83 looking likely, as these two sides will try to exploit each other's weaknesses.
- Southampton have won four and lost one of their last five across all competitions, while Millwall have won their last four.
- The match result could go either way but the home advantage and superior attacking stats for the host side means we'll just lean towards the home team.
