BBC pundit comments on Mauricio Pochettino’s return to Southampton, predicts Tottenham result

Follow us on Google Discover

Tottenham Hotspur travel to take on Southampton this afternoon.

Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Tottenham Hotspur will beat Southampton 2-0 at St. Mary’s Stadium this afternoon.

The Saints head into the game drawn 2-2 at Watford last weekend, despite being 2-0 up at Vicarage Road as the pressure mounts on manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

Southampton have now gone 10 Premier League games without a win, and results on Saturday have plunged the Saints into the relegation zone, and Pellegrino desperately needs a result.

Today, Pellegrino takes on compatriot and former Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino, as Tottenham travel to the South Coast in search of another three points.

Spurs hammered Everton 4-0 at Wembley Stadium last weekend, and have now won six of their last eight Premier League games as Pochettino’s side hit form.

Tottenham can move back into the top four with a victory, and Pochettino will be hoping to claim another win on his latest return to St. Mary’s Stadium, having won 4-1 there last season.

Ahead of today’s game, pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he feels Pellegrino needs a win soon, as he might not get much more time to steady the ship at Southampton.

Lawrenson added that he hopes to see Pochettino get a good reception from Saints fans, and believes Tottenham will claim a 2-0 victory today.

“Tottenham are ticking along nicely at the moment – since their defeat by Manchester City in December, they have taken 13 points out of a possible 15 and a number of their players have hit form,” said Lawrenson.

“Southampton, in contrast, have not won any of their past 10 games but they should have beaten Watford last time out and I was impressed by how calmly Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino reacted to the Hornets’ 90th-minute handball equaliser. Pellegrino badly needs a win soon, because he might not get too much longer to turn things around – but I don’t see him getting it this weekend.”

“Whatever happens, I hope Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino gets a good reception at St Mary’s Stadium, where he did a fabulous job. He deserves some appreciation,” he added.