Brian McDermott looks to collect a rare Royals away point or three from the trip to St Mary’s.

Two newly promoted sides do battle at St Mary’s and do so with both teams desperate for points to help them out of the bottom three.

Though Nigel Adkins side have managed two wins from their last four matches they are still very much in the danger zone and will be looking to pick up a win from the visit of a Royals side who have the joint worst away record in the top tier having picked up just two points from seven matches on the road.

Venue St Mary’s

Tickets Here

Last season Southampton 1 Reading 3 (npower Championship)

Referee Jon Moss

This season’s matches 7 Y23, R1, 3.43 cards per game

Odds Southampton 19-20 Reading 27-10 Draw 5-2

Southampton

Subs from Boruc, K Davis, Hooiveld, S Davis, Rodriguez, Fox, Chaplow, Reeves, Lee, Do Prado, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka

Doubtful None

Injured Richardson (thigh, 15 Dec)

Suspended None

Form guide LDWWDL

Disciplinary record Y15 R0

Leading scorer Lambert 6

Reading

Subs from S Taylor, Pearce, Pogrebnyak, McCleary, Harte, Cummings, Hunt, Mariappa, Obita, J Taylor, Edwards, Guthrie

Doubtful None

Injured Kébé (15 Dec), Karacan (knee, 22 Dec)

Suspended None

Form guide LLLWDD

Disciplinary record Y15 R0

Leading scorer Le Fondre 4

SOURCE: Guardian

STAT-ATTACK

Head-to-head

This is their first meeting in the top flight.

They met twice in the Championship last season. They drew 1-1 at the Madejski and then Reading won 3-1 at St Mary’s in April.

Reading have not lost at Southampton in the league since 1960.

Southampton

The Saints have managed only one clean sheet in the Premier League this season and have let in more goals than any other team (32).

They have picked up three points from a possible 21 away from home this season but have lost only one of their last six at home.

According to Opta, Morgan Schneiderlin averages more tackles per game (4.6) than any other Premier League player.

Reading

Reading have lost 17 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season.

Reading have the lowest average possession (41.2%) and passing accuracy (69.1%) in the top flight.
Nicky Shorey puts in more accurate crosses per game (3.6) than any other player in the Premier League.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

Tickets still available for top football matches – Southampton tickets