Southampton v Ipswich Town: Prediction, Tips and Odds

It has been a tough start to the season for newly-promoted Southampton and Ipswich Town, two of six sides going into the fifth round of Premier League matches still without a win.

Ipswich do at least have points on the board courtesy of back-to-back draws against Fulham and Brighton.

Saints, on the other hand, are without as much as a point following a quartet of losses at the hands of Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Manchester United.

Southampton v Ipswich Town betting tips and predictions

Ipswich Town win - 11/5

The pressure is on bosses Russell Martin and Kieran McKenna as they prepare to square off at St Mary's on Saturday, but there is no doubt which of the two is feeling the heat the most.

McKenna's Ipswich were largely expected to lose their opening Premier League games against Liverpool and Manchester City and duly obliged.

However, they rolled up their sleeves to secure hard-earned points against Fulham and Brighton, the latter result a real spirit lifter given what a good side Albion are.

McKenna has credit in the bank with Ipswich fans after back-to-back promotions, whereas Martin is quickly running out of friends at St Mary's.

The opening-day 1-0 loss at Newcastle was galling since the Toon played for an hour with ten men, but it was the dire 1-0 home loss to Forest next time out that really got alarm bells ringing.

Some horrible mistakes at Brentford were then crucial in a 3-1 defeat and a missed penalty at home to Manchester United was also punished in a 3-0 loss.

Martin is adamant his team is playing well and possession stats show they can pass a ball around, but swathes of supporters at St Mary's are pleading with the manager to try something different in a quest to stop conceding soft goals.

The former Swansea chief says he won't change, so expect plenty of keep-ball from his side, plenty of bright moments - and another defeat.

Saints are one of two teams - Palace are the other - who have yet to lead at any stage of a game this season and it's creating a tension at St Mary's which is a situation Ipswich have to be confident they can exploit.

The Tractor Boys won 1-0 at St Mary's in the Championship last season and have won more Premier League games against Southampton (5) than any other club.

Sam Morsy to be booked - 13/8

Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson was the most recent of four players in Premier League history to pick up yellow cards in four of their first five matches in a season.

On Saturday, Ipswich's Sam Morsy can join that exclusive club at Southampton.

The tenacious Town midfielder took just seven minutes to get his name into Sam Barrott's notebook at Brighton last weekend after two fouls in quick succession.

Morsy was also booked in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Fulham and the 4-1 loss at champions City.

In only one of the last seven seasons has Morsy not reached double figures in bookings and that was during an injury-hit campaign at Middlesbrough.

He is as combative as those numbers highlight and against a Saints side whose passing acumen will test his patience, don't be surprised to see him snap.

Southampton Over 5.5 Corners - 8/11

Southampton will see plenty of the ball but, while that might not contribute to a win, it can help them clock up their share of corners.

Saints are averaging six corners per game over their first four matches and Ipswich have conceded at least six in each of theirs.

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Southampton v Ipswich Town odds

Southampton - 5/4
Draw - 5/2
Ipswich Town - 11/5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.