Southampton vs Brentford: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Southampton are hoping for a late Christmas miracle when they host out-of-form Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

The Saints have lost both their matches under Ivan Juric's tutelage and are still languishing at the foot of the table. They accumulated just six points during the first half of the campaign and look destined to return to the Championship, with ten points separating them from safety.

Brentford will view Saturday's trip south as the perfect opportunity to end their five-game winless run, with Arsenal the latest to punish the out-of-sorts Bees on New Year's Day. Thomas Frank's side are yet to win on the road, however, picking up just two draws from nine Premier League trips.

Here is 90min's guide to a nervy affair at St Mary's.

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Southampton team news

Mateus Fernandes is suspended / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Southampton still find themselves without long-term absentees Gavin Bazunu, Juan Larios and Ross Stewart, while Jack Stephens is likely to miss the visit of Brentford with a knock. Will Smallbone is close to a return but could be absent at the weekend.

Flynn Downes is being assessed ahead of kick-off after suffering a dead leg but the big miss for Southampton will be Mateus Fernandes. One of the club's bright sparks this season, he's suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season against Crystal Palace last time out.

Southampton predicted lineup vs Brentford

Southampton predicted lineup vs Brentford (5-2-1-2): Ramsdale; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood, Walker-Peters; Ugochukwu, Aribo; Dibling; Onuachu, Armstrong.

Brentford team news

Injuries have been relentless for Brentford / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Injuries have been persistent and frustrating for Brentford this season but Frank has revealed that all those who featured against Arsenal are available on Saturday. That means the returning Mark Flekken, Sepp van den Berg and Mathias Jensen all came through the defeat unscathed.

However, the Bees remain without a number of important first-teamers. Fabio Carvalho is absent with a groin injury, while Kristoffer Ajer, Rico Henry, Ben Mee, Aaron Hickey and Ethan Pinnock are all absent in defence. Igor Thiago, Gustavo Nunes and Joshua Dasilva are all missing, too.

Brentford predicted lineup vs Southampton

Brentford predicted lineup vs Southampton (4-3-1-2): Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard, Jensen; Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Wissa.

Brentford have been in disappointing form of late as their injuries pile up but they still have a wealth of impressive attacking options, chiefly Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo. Kevin Schade could also have a sizeable impact on the outcome, either from the bench or the start.

Southampton have never left crisis this season and have been defensively shambolic. Things have improved since Russell Martin's departure but they still lack the quality at both ends of the pitch required to stay in the division.

Brentford could well secure a first away win of the season at St Mary's to pile more misery on the Saints.