Kevin Phillips predicts winner in West Brom clash v Southampton
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips predicts Albion will beat Southampton on Monday night as two of his former clubs face off at The Hawthorns in the Premier League.
Newcastle’s win over Burnley means Albion’s task of avoiding relegation has been made all the more impossible with Sam Allardyce’s side now 11 points from safety with eight games left to play.
Of course, they can reduce the deficit to eight points by beating Southampton in the Black Country on Monday and ex-striker Phillips predicts they’ll do exactly that.
“I’m going to go for a win. They’re full of confidence,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“Southampton, on their day, are a difficult team to play against but I’m going to go for a West Brom win – 2-1.
West Brom hammered Chelsea 5-2 at Stamford Bridge in their last outing while Southampton also enjoyed a high-scoring game as they beat Burnley 3-2 last weekend.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side has been in poor form in the second half of the season, winning just two of their last 13 Premier League fixtures.
Both of those two wins have come in their last four games so it remains to be seen how the Baggies will cope with a seemingly rejuvenated south coast club.
In the last five meetings between Albion and Southampton, the Saints have won on every occasion. Earlier this season, Hassenhuttl’s men won 2-0 at St Mary’s with Moussa Djenepo and Oriol Romeu getting on the scoresheet.
In other West Brom news, this £42,000-a-week Aston Villa player has been tipped for a potential free transfer to The Hawthorns in the summer.
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