Alex Neil talks up Southampton but backs Millwall to relish underdog role | OneFootball

Alex Neil talked up Southampton while casting Millwall as underdogs at Friday’s briefing, shifting pressure before today’s trip to St Mary’s.

According to Sainstmarching.com, he called Saints a good side who won late last season and have started this one reasonably well, adding that St Mary’s is a difficult place to visit.

He highlighted resources, with Southampton’s squad valued at £156m to Millwall’s £73m, and a summer net of £6.9m received against £7m spent. The table reads 24th on minus one for Saints and first on six for Millwall.

Despite the EFL’s four-point deduction, Southampton are still expected to contend, with Sport Republic and supporters demanding as much. The arrivals of James Ward-Prowse and Keven Schlotterbeck this week underline that clout, and Ward-Prowse says Tonda Eckert’s detail has impressed him.

Millwall took four points off Saints last season. In late November at The Den, six minutes into added time, Tristan Crama snatched the winner after Finn Azaz had levelled, with Gavin Bazunu, now at Championship newcomers Bolton Wanderers, left stranded.

The New Year’s Day rematch at St Mary’s finished goalless, Eckert upbeat despite boos from home fans. Neil wants a similarly robust display today and would happily pocket the same four-point return.

Southampton have sold to buy, with Shea Charles’s move to Fulham funding much of their business and an impending Taylor Harwood-Bellis departure expected to ease pressure for the rest of the season.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

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