Southampton need the points more than Brighton and the Saints look decent at 15/8 (Coral) to win at the Withdean in League One.
We expected that guaranteeing promotion would see Brighton ease off at Walsall but they put in another excellent performance at the Bescot Stadium to clinch the title. This week however, it could be a different story as they face promotion-chasing Southampton at the Withdean Stadium.
Saints are desperate for the points to ensure they secure second spot in a battle that looks set to go to the wire but the Seagulls obviously have no more to prove and boss Gus Poyet has admitted as much, saying that it’s a game his players can ‘go out and enjoy’ and later adding ‘it doesn’t matter if we are beaten 10-0’.
Of course, teams under no pressure often play with a freedom that makes them extremely dangerous and Brighton, at 8/5 with 888Sport, certainly have the class to put themselves into that category. Nevertheless, Saints’ extra intensity could prove crucial and their big price is enough to warrant a flutter on Nigel Adkins’ troops at 15/8 (Coral).
Martin Allen’s Notts County edged out of the relegation zone on Tuesday with a 1-0 victory at Tranmere and they perhaps look a little overpriced at 5/2 with , to grab another vital victory at rock bottom Swindon.
However, one success isn’t enough to convince us that the Magpies will now kick-on and start picking up more wins and punters would be better advised to focus on goals at County Ground, or more specifically, a lack thereof.
Swindon have scored just seven times in their last 14 matches and haven’t struck twice in a match since 1st February while County have only managed six goals in 14 so it’s fair to assume that the pair won’t serve up a high-scoring thriller. At 23/10 (Sportingbet) then, a tally of fewer than 1.5 goals is worth a small speculation.
Recommended Bets:
Southampton to beat Brighton – 15/8 (Coral)
Under 1.5 goals in Swindon v Notts County – 23/10 (Sportingbet)
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