Preston vs Southampton: who has the edge

Southampton FC close out the regular season this afternoon against Preston and will be looking to end the 46-game campaign with a 19-game unbeaten…. Preston vs Southampton has emerged this Saturday as one of the stories drawing attention in United Kingdom.

Key facts

• Southampton FC close out the regular season this afternoon against Preston and will be looking to end the 46-game campaign with a 19-game unbeaten….
• Tonda Eckert is determined to reward Southampton’s biggest away following of the season with victory at Preston on Saturday (12.30pm BST).
• SAINTS close out the regular season this afternoon against Preston, and will be looking to end the 46-game campaign with a 19-game unbeaten run.
• But Eckert has insisted he will select a side worthy of beating mid-table Preston, who beat Saints 2-0 earlier this season.
• Southampton's Daniel Peretz produced a big save at the death against Ipswich. (Image: Stuart Martin).

What we know

Going deeper, Tonda Eckert is determined to reward Southampton’s biggest away following of the season with victory at Preston on Saturday (12.30pm BST).

On the substance, SAINTS close out the regular season this afternoon against Preston, and will be looking to end the 46-game campaign with a 19-game unbeaten run.

Beyond the headlines, But Eckert has insisted he will select a side worthy of beating mid-table Preston, who beat Saints 2-0 earlier this season.

More precisely, Southampton's Daniel Peretz produced a big save at the death against Ipswich. (Image: Stuart Martin).

It is worth noting that Southampton's Nathan Wood has been starting in Jack Stephens' recent absence. (Image: Stuart Martin).

By the numbers

At this stage, Tonda Eckert's charges have not lost in the league since a 2-1 defeat to Hull City on January 17 and want to maintain their unbeaten run for the play-offs.

On a related note, more than 5,400 Saints fans are set to embark on the 500-mile round trip to Deepdale, and the head coach, speaking after Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Ipswich at a raucous St Mary’s, is full of gratitude for the support his team has received throughout the run-in.

What they're saying

“We know there is one more coming up on Saturday, we have amazing away support travelling with us, so we will make sure that we do everything to win the game, and on to the play-offs,” Eckert said.

The wider context

On a related note, Southampton's Finn Azaz has been a regular fixture under Tonda Eckert. (Image: Stuart Martin).

Going deeper, Southampton's Leo Scienza is always a threat on the left wing. (Image: Stuart Martin).

On the substance, when asked if he would take the opportunity to rest players at Preston, Eckert added: “I think in general we play to win football games, and we’ve always done that.

Beyond the headlines, Keep an eye on southamptonfc.com and the Saints App for details.

More precisely, With this, their ninth game in less than a month, Saints may need to rest some tired bodies before the play-offs begin.

The bottom line

• When asked if he would take the opportunity to rest players at Preston, Eckert added: “I think in general we play to win football games, and we’ve always done that.
• More than 5,400 Saints fans are set to embark on the 500-mile round trip to Deepdale, and the head coach, speaking after Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Ipswich at a raucous St Mary’s, is full of gratitude for the support his team has received throughout the run-in.
• Here's how we predicted Saints will lineup at Deepdale this afternoon...