Southampton v Sunderland preview: David Moyes looks for first league win

David Moyes takes his Sunderland team to Southampton looking for their first Premier League points of the season.

Sunderland lost their opening two league matches of the season to Manchester City and north-east rivals Middlesbrough.

"If we can go to Southampton and get a point it would be a good result, but we want to go there and win," Moyes said.

"I thought Southampton played really well at (Manchester) United and thought they were unlucky. The club have a real solidity about them."

Claude Puel's Saints are also looking for their first win, having drawn with Watford and lost at Manchester United.

Team news

Ryan Bertrand is poised for his first competitive Southampton appearance under new boss Puel after recovering from knee trouble.

The England full-back will undergo a late fitness check ahead of Saturday's clash at St Mary's. 

Oriol Romeu has shaken off the knock he suffered in the 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, but Jeremy Pied is missing with a knee injury.

Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford is in line for a Premier League start after Vito Mannone was ruled out for a minimum of three months by injury.

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Italian Mannone could yet face surgery to repair damaged elbow ligaments, handing the England Under-21 international his chance.

Defenders John O'Shea (hip) and Lamine Kone (back) and midfielders Fabio Borini (toe) and Jeremain Lens (foot) are being assessed and new signing Javier Manquillo could feature for the first time.

Elsewhere, Jan Kirchhoff (hamstring) is expected to return to full training next week, but Billy Jones (hip), Lee Cattermole (hernia surgery) and Sebastian Larsson (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Opta stats

Southampton have won just two of their last 10 league games against Sunderland (D5 L3), although those two wins have arrived in the last four meetings.

Sunderland have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last seven Premier League matches against Southampton (15 conceded).

Southampton have seen a player sent off in two of their last three Premier League meetings with Sunderland (James Ward-Prowse in May 2015 and Jose Fonte in March 2016).

Dusan Tadic has had a hand in six goals in just three Premier League games against Sunderland, scoring two and assisting four more.

Saints earned their record top-flight victory in this fixture in October 2014, winning 8-0.

Sunderland registered three own goals in that defeat, a joint-record for a Premier League match (Sunderland also three against Charlton in February 2003).

David Moyes is unbeaten in his last eight Premier League games against Southampton, though five of these have been draws (W3).

Sunderland have won just one of their 19 Premier League matches in the month of August since 2010-11 (W1 D9 L9).

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Merson's predictions

It's going to be a long season for Sunderland. The way Middlesbrough carved through them for the second goal last weekend was so easy, there are better teams than Boro in this league and I think they are going to find it very difficult.

Southampton made the numbers up at Man Utd last week and they look soft up front. They are trying to make Nathan Redmond into a forward and Shane Long works hard but doesn't score enough goals.

They miss Graziano Pelle as a focal point and need more going forward, but I think they will have enough to get their first win of the season.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)

Betting

Southampton couldn't cope with United last weekend, but are odds-on favourites at 3/5 to pick up their first victory of the season at home to Sunderland on Saturday. Their opening-day encounter with Watford ended in a frustrating 1-1 and Sky Bet offer 11/4 for them to be held to a draw once more.

Sunderland have endured a difficult start to life under Moyes and were dealt another blow when goalkeeper Manone was ruled out for three months on Friday. The depleted Black Cats are 5/1 outsiders for away success and it's 9/1 that the visitors are ahead at half-time and full time.

Saints signing Redmond has made a bright start on the south coast and Sky Sports expert Matt Le Tissier, a club legend at Southampton, is tipping him to open the scoring at 9/2, in a market headed by team-mate Long (4/1).

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