Southampton v Leicester: Support a shootout at St Mary's

• Southampton's defensive concerns

• Leicester looking for immediate bounceback

• Goals expected in St Mary's shootout

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Southampton's unbeaten start to life back in the second-tier came to a shuddering halt before the international break. Saints were second-best in every department as they suffered a 5-0 thrashing at Sunderland, prompting head coach Russell Martin to issue a grovelling apology to travelling supporters.

It was the second occasion already this season that Southampton have shipped at least four goals in a Championship contest and Saints have now conceded the most goals in the division, as they search for a first clean sheet of the campaign.

That task has been made more difficult with Martin facing a defensive reshuffle ahead of Friday night's fixture. Jan Bednarek picked up an injury whilst away with Poland and is rated doubtful, meaning Everton loanee Mason Holgate could retain his place despite struggling on debut. However, deadline day signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis is an option.

Meanwhile, Leicester chief Enzo Maresca has called on his squad to be more clinical in front of goal after seeing the Foxes' 100% record ended at home to Hull. City fired in 21 attempts during their 1-0 reverse yet managed just a solitary on-target effort during the defeat - new signing Abdul Fatuwu came closest after seeing his shot bounce back off the base of a post.

Tom Cannon will hope to be involved following his deadline day signing, and Conor Coady is expected to be in contention, but Dennis Praet will be out of action for at least three months.

Goals on the agenda

We're only five rounds deep in the Championship campaign, yet goals were a real feature for August with the league averaging 2.87 goals - 60% of showdowns broke the Over 2.5 Goals 8/111.73 barrier, whilst 63% of matches delivered profitable Both Teams To Score 4/71.57 plays, both of which should go close at St Mary's.

Southampton's opening five fixtures have all covered the Over 2.5 Goals line, with four of those outings also clicking for Both Teams To Score backers with matches averaging a chunky 4.40 goals. Saints are boasting a 1.70 Expected Goals (xG) per-game output across the early stanza, averaging 10.80 shots from inside the penalty area.

Leicester have been more measured in their approach, yet the Foxes have still seen three of their five encounters bank for Over 2.5 Goals backers, with the same success-rate occurring for BTTS hunters.

Enzo Maresca's men are averaging 10 penalty box attempts per-game and should have close to a full complement of attacking options available this weekend.

With that in-mind, backing Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score holds plenty of appeal at 1.9520/21. The selection has paid-out in seven of the duos combined 10 Championship contests since relegation with the pair keeping just one clean sheet between them thus far.