Southampton bank on Cyle Larin and must subdue Millwall’s Larin-like threat | OneFootball

Southampton face Millwall in the Championship today, looking to rebound from a 4-1 EFL Cup defeat by West Ham United. According to Sainstmarching.com, the home defence was exposed in midweek and pressure has risen at St Mary's.

Tonda Eckert will want a response to calm frustration, but Alex Neil's unbeaten Lions arrive having conceded just one goal in four matches across all competitions.

Cyle Larin, benched in midweek, is expected to return to the XI. Rated by his manager as the Championship’s best striker, the 33-year-old, a 94-cap Canada international, has three goals this season from four starts, including two in two in the league.

Since his Championship debut in February, no player has scored more in the competition than Larin. He has 10 in 18 at a rate of one every 100 minutes, and 12 goals for Saints overall, including one against promotion-chasing Ipswich Town last season.

The Brampton Bagsman also relishes the physical battle, with seven duels won across the games he has scored in this term, which could be vital against Millwall’s rugged back line.

Millwall carry their own striker threat in Josh Coburn. The ex-Middlesbrough forward has two in two this season for the early leaders, and though he did not score in the 3-0 win over Norwich City, he hit the crossbar and won four duels. The 23-year-old won his only meeting with Eckert’s side as Middlesbrough beat Southampton 2-1 at the Riverside in 2023.

If Southampton are to upset the leaders, they will likely need Larin at full tilt, while keeping Coburn quiet to climb off the bottom.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”