Key Highlights
- Saints host Preston in the Sky Bet Championship at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.
- The match is a return for Saints after two consecutive away defeats.
- Preston comes into the game off the back of a comeback win against Sheffield United.
- Several Saints players are dealing with injuries, including Shea Charles and Ross Stewart.
Return to St Mary’s Stadium
Saints face Preston in an eagerly anticipated Championship clash at their home ground, St Mary’s Stadium. The match is scheduled for Saturday, November 1st, with kickoff at 3pm GMT. This game marks a significant return for Southampton as they aim to bounce back from recent away defeats.
Match Details and Lineups
The official match officials for the fixture include referee Matthew Donohue, assisted by Jacob Graham and Carl Fitch-Jackson, with Gavin Ward acting as the fourth official. The home team, Saints, will don their traditional red and white stripes, while Preston players will be seen in a blue and fluorescent yellow away kit.
Several key players for Southampton are currently unavailable due to injury or suspension. Shea Charles is ruled out for six to seven weeks with a hamstring injury sustained at Blackburn.
Ross Stewart faces a longer-term absence, adding to the list of injured players. Cameron Archer has missed training all week with a knock from his encounter at Ewood Park, while Flynn Downes is in doubt due to a knee injury.
Managerial Perspectives and Key Players
Manager Will Still addressed the media ahead of the match. He emphasized the need for the team to fight back and highlighted the importance of everyone stepping up. “We’ve got to fight back,” he said, “This scenario isn’t new. As a club we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves, stand up and fight back.
Show what this club is about and not moan about everything that can possibly be moaned about.”
Paul Heckingbottom of Preston also offered his thoughts on the upcoming game. He expressed pride in the players’ performances and acknowledged the challenge ahead. “The players should be proud of where they are and more the performance levels,” he stated. “What we want to try and do, and there’s no guarantees we can do it, is just try and turn more of those performances into wins and just keep pushing and pushing.”
Recent Form and Head-to-Head
Saints have shown inconsistent form in recent matches. Their latest victory came against Sheffield United, while they also recorded back-to-back draws with Derby County and a loss to Bristol City. Preston’s most recent game ended in a 3-2 win over Birmingham City after coming from behind.
The history between the two teams is noteworthy.
In the last five meetings, Saints have secured victories against Preston in 2024, while Preston won matches in 2023 and 2011. The most recent meeting saw a 3-0 win for Southampton over Preston back in April 2024.
Live Coverage and Matchday Information
Fans unable to attend the match can still follow along through live coverage options, including Saints Play passes available outside of the UK. Additionally, supporters are encouraged to download the official Saints app for live updates during the game and social media engagement for further content.
With tickets starting from £20 for adults and £10 for under-18s, fans have limited opportunities left to secure their place at St Mary’s Stadium. The matchday programme is also available online, featuring various sections like player insights, club history, and more.
