Southampton fell to their third defeat in a week as they were beaten 1-0 by Stoke City on Saturday. It was an uninspired final home game of the regular season for the Saints, as they looked every bit a team who already knew their destiny was the play-offs. For Stoke there was more at stake, with the three points ensuring they ended any threat of relegation to the third tier. Russell Martin made a number of changes from the side that lost so comprehensively to Leicester City in the previous game but the majority of fringe players that came in struggled to take their opportunity. It was a...…Southampton fell to their third defeat in a week as they were beaten 1-0 by Stoke City on Saturday. It was an uninspired final home game of the regular season for the Saints, as they looked every bit a team who already knew their destiny was the play-offs. For Stoke there was more at stake, with the three points ensuring they ended any threat of relegation to the third tier. Russell Martin made a number of changes from the side that lost so comprehensively to Leicester City in the previous game but the majority of fringe players that came in struggled to take their opportunity. It was a...WW…

Southampton are majority owned by Sport Republic. The London-based sports investment firm acquired the St Mary’s outfit in January 2022 and have overseen a difficult period. Since taking charge at Southampton, the firm founded by Rasmus Andersen and Henrik Kraft and financed by lead investor Dragan Solak have seen the Saints finish bottom of the Premier League. They have also had four different managers during their tenure, with Ralph Hasenhuttl initially keeping his job when the takeover was completed but sacked in October 2022. Nathan Jones replaced the Austrian, before coach Ruben Selles...…Southampton are majority owned by Sport Republic. The London-based sports investment firm acquired the St Mary’s outfit in January 2022 and have overseen a difficult period. Since taking charge at Southampton, the firm founded by Rasmus Andersen and Henrik Kraft and financed by lead investor Dragan Solak have seen the Saints finish bottom of the Premier League. They have also had four different managers during their tenure, with Ralph Hasenhuttl initially keeping his job when the takeover was completed but sacked in October 2022. Nathan Jones replaced the Austrian, before coach Ruben Selles...WW…

Southampton are in danger of seeing their season fizzle out. The aim for this campaign was always a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Whilst the possibility of achieving this automatically has gone, they still have the opportunity to achieve their goal via the play-offs. Worryingly, though, is that manager Russell Martin has seen his team’s form take a real nosedive recently. Southampton have won three of their last nine league matches and have lost the last three in a row just as their automatic rivals had faltered. In the midst of this three game run was the...…Southampton are in danger of seeing their season fizzle out. The aim for this campaign was always a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Whilst the possibility of achieving this automatically has gone, they still have the opportunity to achieve their goal via the play-offs. Worryingly, though, is that manager Russell Martin has seen his team’s form take a real nosedive recently. Southampton have won three of their last nine league matches and have lost the last three in a row just as their automatic rivals had faltered. In the midst of this three game run was the...WW…

Southampton are enduring a disappointing end to their campaign. Following relegation from the Premier League last summer this season had been seen as something of a reset, with Russell Martin brought in to implement his possession-based style. After some initial teething problems early on in the season saw Southampton lose four games on the bounce, they then went on a record-breaking run of 25 games unbeaten in all competitions. Recently, though, things have taken a turn for the worst. The Saints were still in with a slim chance of automatic promotion following the final international break...…Southampton are enduring a disappointing end to their campaign. Following relegation from the Premier League last summer this season had been seen as something of a reset, with Russell Martin brought in to implement his possession-based style. After some initial teething problems early on in the season saw Southampton lose four games on the bounce, they then went on a record-breaking run of 25 games unbeaten in all competitions. Recently, though, things have taken a turn for the worst. The Saints were still in with a slim chance of automatic promotion following the final international break...WW…

Southampton made two signings in January, as they looked to add to the squad ready for a promotion push. As it has turned out, that automatic promotion push never really materialised, with Southampton now preparing for another shot at a return to the Premier League via the play-offs. Both of the January arrivals came from Bournemouth and both were on loan, as David Brooks and Joe Rothwell made the short move along the coast. The right wing position was an area where Russell Martin desperately wanted to bring someone in, with Ryan Fraser, Samuel Edozie and Kamaldeen Sulemana all wingers who...…Southampton made two signings in January, as they looked to add to the squad ready for a promotion push. As it has turned out, that automatic promotion push never really materialised, with Southampton now preparing for another shot at a return to the Premier League via the play-offs. Both of the January arrivals came from Bournemouth and both were on loan, as David Brooks and Joe Rothwell made the short move along the coast. The right wing position was an area where Russell Martin desperately wanted to bring someone in, with Ryan Fraser, Samuel Edozie and Kamaldeen Sulemana all wingers who...WW…

Aston Villa have just secured a fifth place Premier League finish at the very least this season. Unai Emery and his side have bigger ambitions, though, as they target a Champions League spot. Currently in the fourth and final Champions League place, Villa‘s 2-2 draw with Chelsea means they are guaranteed to be playing in the Europa League next season. They are in a battle with Tottenham for fourth place, but have the upper hand given they are seven points ahead of Spurs; albeit Ange Postecoglou’s side do have two games in hand. With the Europa Conference League campaign alongside the league...…Aston Villa have just secured a fifth place Premier League finish at the very least this season. Unai Emery and his side have bigger ambitions, though, as they target a Champions League spot. Currently in the fourth and final Champions League place, Villa‘s 2-2 draw with Chelsea means they are guaranteed to be playing in the Europa League next season. They are in a battle with Tottenham for fourth place, but have the upper hand given they are seven points ahead of Spurs; albeit Ange Postecoglou’s side do have two games in hand. With the Europa Conference League campaign alongside the league...WW…