Southampton vs Swansea Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 24/12/2023, 14:25  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 26/12/2023 at 02:00 in Championship Prediction

Southampton will be looking to keep their good form in the Championship going when they play host to Swansea City on Boxing Day. The hosts are currently in fourth place in the league standings, while the visitors are 16th. After suffering four consecutive defeats in a row back in September, Southampton have been on an upward trajectory. They secured a 1-0 away win against Queens Park Rangers over the weekend to extend their excellent recent record to 15 matches unbeaten. During that time, they managed ten wins and five draws. The Saints are now level with third-placed Leeds United on 45 points after 23 games, seven shy of Ipswich Town in second. The hosts have also won each of their last five matches at St. Marys ahead of this one and are unbeaten in their last seven. Southampton beat this opponent 3-2 in the FA Cup last season and are the clear favourites in this one. 

Meanwhile, Swansea had a very poor start to the 2023-24 league season but have also been trending in an upward direction of late. They managed a very impressive 2-1 win over Preston North End over the weekend, bouncing back from a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough a week earlier. However, that loss was the only one they have conceded in their last five matches while winning two and drawing two of the other four. Last weekend’s victory took The Swans to 28 points and eight clear of QPR, who are the first side below the dotted line. Exactly half of Swansea’s 28-point tally have come in away games this season, and they will be aiming to avoid defeat for a third consecutive match in this one. A win here could see them move up as high as 14th, while a loss could result in them dropping as low as 19th, depending on results elsewhere.