Southampton attacking midfielder Dusan Tadic. (Photo : Getty Images)
Winless squads Southampton FC (0-1-1, 1 point) and Sunderland AFC (0-2-0, 0 points) will try to snag their first win of the 2016-2017 Premier League season as they face each other at the St. Mary's Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 27.
With the new season already on its third week of action, Southampton and Sunderland both had failed to garner any victories in their first two matches. This match against one another will give them the opportunity to do just that.
The Saints are coming off a 0-2 crushing in the hands of the new-and-improved Manchester United XI at the Old Trafford last Friday, as per Daily Mail Online.
New head coach Claude Puel boys' had admitted after the match that they are still adjusting to the style and system of play of the French manager, who took over the reins from Ronald Koeman, who left for Everton last June.
With the team currently in the process of adjustment, Southampton surrendered two goals to the irrepressible Zlatan Ibrahimović, who hit an unstoppable header at the 36th and a penalty kick at the 52nd to give his side a perfect start.
Southampton striker Nathan Redmond had been active on the attack early, but he lacked support from his teammates up front which allowed United defenders to simply fend it off every time.
Meanwhile, Sunderland is on a two-game losing slide to start the term after a 1-2 defeat to newly-promoted club Middlesbrough FC at their own home ground of Stadium of Light last Sunday, SkySports reported.
Boro forward Cristhian Stuani netted the first goal of the match at the 13th and then doubled the lead right at the stroke of halftime to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage at the break.
Head coach David Moyes' side tried to fight back after the restart, but only a goal from left back Patrick van Aanholt at the 71st was all the Black Cats could come up with as they fall short of even a draw at home.
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for Southampton.
Southampton starting lineup (4-1-2-1-2 formation): Forster; Soares, van Dijk, Fonte, Targett; Romeu; Hojbjerg, Davis; Tadic; Long, Redmond
Sunderland starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Mannone; Love, O'Shea, Djilobodji, van Aanholt; Rodwell, McNair; Januzaj, Gooch, Watmore Defoe
