Charlie Nicholas has predicted a 1-0 win for Southampton against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Pundit Charlie Nicholas has told Sky Sports that he thinks Southampton will beat Hapoel Be’er Sheva 1-0 in the Europa League this evening.
The Saints are back in European action tonight as they host Hapoel Be’er Sheva at St. Mary’s Stadium, and will be hoping for a response after a disappointing defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
Southampton slipped to a 3-0 defeat to Palace, with goalkeeper Fraser Forster making a huge error in the build-up to Christian Benteke’s opening goal, before slack defending allowed the Eagles to grab two close-range goals.
Southampton manager Claude Puel
Now, Claude Puel’s men must hit back tonight and book their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League, especially having been beaten 1-0 at Sparta Prague in their last game.
Southampton sit second in Group K of the Europa League, and with Sparta Prague already named as group winners and Inter Milan knocked out, it comes down to tonight’s game to decide who wins second spot and a passage into the knockout rounds.
General view inside St Mary’s Stadium
Both Southampton and Hapoel Be’er Sheva are locked on seven points in Group K, and with Southampton currently ahead, only a defeat can cost the Saints a passage into the next round.
Ahead of tonight’s game, pundit Charlie Nicholas has told Sky Sports that he thinks Southampton will grab a 1-0 win, but does have concern about Puel’s side.
Nicholas suggested that Southampton are ‘like a bag of Revels’, as they got battered at Crystal Palace when many expected them to win at Selhurst Park, whilst also criticising much-praised defender Virgil van Dijk for being ‘slack-minded’.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk
“Southampton are like a bag of Revels,” said Nicholas. “I think everyone expected them to win at the weekend and they didn’t just disappoint but they got absolutely battered, even without Fraser Forster’s mistake.”
“Everybody talks up Virgil van Dijk but he can still be slack-minded and he’s got away with quite a few penalty calls this season. Defending is an art and he’s not quite got it nailed, a bit like John Stones.”
“Surely Dusan Tadic should be back with a mask on? I was also surprised to see Josh Sims not starting at the weekend after doing so well. I do think they’ll edge this one though and I’m backing a man who is overdue a goal in Steven Davis to get the winner,” he added.
What’s your prediction for Southampton v Hapoel Be’er Sheva?
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