Southampton can still avoid Premier League relegation, says Sky Sports' Dan Long | OneFootball

While Southampton sit bottom of the Premier League table with just six points, ahead of Saturday's game against Brentford at St Mary's Stadium, Ivan Jurić's side are still in with a chance of escaping relegation this season, says Sky Sports' Dan Long.

The Saints will be looking for their second win of the season this weekend, against a Bees side who are searching for their first victory on the road this term.

Southampton go into 2025 rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, just months after returning to the top flight from the Championship. What have you made of their season so far?

Pretty horrible, is how I would sum it up. There were so many high points last season, most notably the 22-game unbeaten run in the league and winning the play-off final against Leeds at Wembley, that when the club spent over £100 million to strengthen in the summer, it seemed there would be more of the same and they would get back onto the path of becoming an established Premier League club again. That just has not been the case.

Russell Martin stuck with his tried-and-tested possession-based style that had served Saints well in the Championship, but in the Premier League - while it looked nice at times - it helped bring in only four points in 16 games.

There have been fleeting glimpses of what they are capable of - see the opening stages of the 3-0 loss to Manchester United and the narrow 3-2 defeat to Liverpool - but fleeting glimpses is all they have been.

Martin lost his job on 15 December, very shortly after the 5-0 humbling against Tottenham, which seemed inevitable when the fans were calling for his head during the game.

What has certainly not helped is the fact Southampton have made a league-high 12 errors leading to goals - three more than any other - which has been a significant factor in the fact they are fighting for their lives again going into the New Year.

Ivan Jurić came in to replace Martin six days after his departure. How have the fans taken to him so far?

The former Croatian international has only taken charge of one game at St Mary’s so far, so many will not have seen enough of him just yet, but what he said when he first took charge will certainly have got many on board early doors.

He said: “It's important to immediately be connected with the fans. I want an aggressive team and I think that fans of Southampton will like that. I want us to be more aggressive, to do much more pressing, and we have to be quick to change mentality because this is my idea of football.”

He also likened his style of football to death metal music, so if that does not at least get some fans intrigued - and hopefully excited for what is to come - I do not know what will!

There is a reported break clause in his contract so he could move on in the summer if the fight against relegation is not successful, but he says he is optimistic about what his group of players can do.

Do you think there is any hope of survival?

I am a glass-half-full kind of guy and, rightly or wrongly, hold onto hope in every situation, so I will not write Southampton off just yet - but I will say the situation is bleak at the moment.

I did not really grasp how bleak it was until I saw a graphic on X the other day that said Saints have fewer points (six) at this stage of the season than Derby did in 2007/08 (seven), on their way to a record low tally of 11 that year.

They have a new man in charge now, though, and he has not only the January transfer window in which to strengthen if he so wishes, but also another 19 games - half the season - to turn things around.

Sure, it is a cliché, but they need to treat this as a season in itself. The task at hand is huge, so full concentration is required at all times.

Which player should Brentford fans be keeping an eye on on Saturday?

I am such a big fan of Tyler Dibling - and Southampton fans are fully aware they need to enjoy him while he is still at the club.

It is his name that is greeted with the biggest cheers when the team is announced at St Mary’s on a matchday: “Tyler Dibling, he’s one of our own,” sing the fans.

With his Jack Grealish-like swagger, the 18-year-old is skilful and fearless on the ball and, when he gets forward, more often than not, his mazy runs and nonchalant deliveries get fans off their feet.

He is capable of creating something from nothing and is undoubtedly being tracked by teams higher up the Premier League table, who know there is so much potential to be unlocked.

How is Jurić likely to set up his side on Saturday?

With 39 goals conceded already, the focus now has to be on locking things up at the back if Saints are to have any chance of staying in the division.

Russell Martin played a back-five towards the end of his reign, but the new boss has switched to a 3-4-1-2. Aaron Ramsdale will be in goal, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek and Nathan Wood the back three; Kyle Walker-Peters at left wing-back and either Yuki Sugawara or James Bree on the right.

Flynn Downes, Joe Aribo, Lesley Ugochukwu and Mateus Fernandes have alternated in the centre since Jurić came in, while Tyler Dibling played behind Paul Onuachu and Adam Armstrong last time out against Crystal Palace.

They have still only taken one point from the three games since his arrival, but do not expect sudden changes to their set-up just yet.

What’s your score prediction?

Given Brentford’s away record this season, Southampton will see this as an opportunity to pick up a much-needed win, but I could see the Bees edging it 2-1.