Southampton vs Birmingham City

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins is looking for the 100th league win of his managerial career when Birmingham City travel to St. Mary's this Sunday.

'I'm absolutely buzzing,' he told to Saints Player. 'The main thing was that we got the win, so I'm made up with that.

'I'm always thinking selfishly, and hoping that I'll get a chance. I was thinking, 'put it on my head', and luckily Foxy's put a great ball in inside the last ten minutes, and I've managed to get on the end of it - I don't know which part of my head it's hit, but I knew I had contact on target, and in it went!'

Defenders Dan Harding (knee) and Frazier Richardson (calf) will have late fitness tests before returning the side to face Birmingham.

Radhi Jaidi remains sidelined, so Jos Hooiveld looks to keep his place at centre half - after making his debut against Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Rickie Lambert has warmed to life in the Championship. Lambert netted a hat-trick last weekend against Forest - which took his league goals total to five in six games. And the 29-year-old will be looking to add to his tally when Birmingham come to St. Mary's on Sunday.

Striker Marlon King could make his first league start for the Blues, after making his debut on Thursday night in the 3-1 defeat to SC Braga in the Europa League.

Birmingham boss Chris Hughton has to decide whether striker Nikola Zigic is to feature for the Blues as the Serbian international has just returned to training after recovering from a groin injury.

Chris Wood, who is on-loan from West Bromwich Albion, netted his first senior hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Millwall at St. Andrew's last weekend. The New Zealand striker will be full of confidence, but has bad memories of St. Mary's after missing a penalty when he was playing for Brighton last season.

Southampton have won 15 to Birmingham's 14, with 9 of the 38 league meetings ending in a draw.

The Saints have their eye on their sixth league win - the best start to a season.

Saints boss Nigel Adkins is looking for his 100th league win of his managerial career.

Birmingham are not the best travelers, having only picked up three points out of a possible 30 away from home.

The Blues have opened the scoring in their five league games, but have dropped eight points from winning positions.

Mr. Dean Whitestone from Northamptonshire takes charge of Sunday's game.

SAINTS 2 - 1 Birmingham Southampton will continue their brilliant start to the season with another home win. Birmingham have shown that they can take the lead, but they lack what it takes to grind out a result - particularly away from home.

Southampton

Preston (H) Wednesday, 21st September

(Carling Cup)

Burnley (A) Saturday, 24th September (League)

Birmingham

Man City (A) Wednesday, 21st September (Carling Cup)

Barnsley (H) Saturday, 24th September

(League)

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