Stoke v Southampton: Armstrong appeals as anytime goalscorer option

• Neither side has convinced consistently

• Stoke have shipped 2+ goals in 4/5 outings

• Saints hitman Armstrong value in AGS market

• Read Betfair's new 90 Minute Payout offer here

Nathan Lowe scored the first goal of his career in the 89th minute as Stoke 2.829/5 pulled off a stunning and unlikely turnaround to beat Bristol City 3-2 on Saturday.

The Potters - who had W0-D1-L4 of their previous five fixtures - looked dead and buried after just 15 minutes having conceded two horrible early goals. Frustrations were threatening to boil over in the away end, but a superb strike from Mehdi Leris gave City a foothold and Sead Haksabanovic equalised soon after the break to change the mood.

Stoke chief Alex Neil said he tried to take the pressure off his players at half-time and his team-talk certainly appeared to do the trick at Ashton Gate, although the Potters boss admitted afterwards, "While I don't think it was the best we've played, I thought we showed real character and spirit."

Injuries continue to frustrate Neil with Andre Vidigal, Enda Stevens, Ryan Mmaee and Tyrerse Campbell all still sidelined. Lynden Gooch and Michael Rose picked up strains on Saturday and will be assessed though neither look likely to be fit enough to feature.

Southampton 2.6813/8 produced a sensational first-half display as they ended a four-match losing run with an eye-catching 3-1 success over Leeds on Saturday. Adam Armstrong put the hosts in front after just two minutes, Will Smallbone doubled the lead on 31 minutes before Armstrong nudged in his seventh goal of the season before the break.

Manager Russell Martin made several changes to his side with Ryan Manning, Charly Alcaraz and Kamaldeen Sulemana all handed starts and was delighted with his team's display, saying: "I loved their courage and intensity. Hopefully it gives the players evidence that if they're brave with what we're working on they will have lots more moments like that."

Armstrong the Anytime angle

Neither Stoke nor Southampton have been consistent enough to back with confidence this midweek. The two clubs have collectively lost nine of their combined 18 Championship contests thus far, with the pair amongst the bottom-six for goals conceded having managed a solitary shutout between them.

With Both Teams To Score to short to support at 4/71.57, punters are advised to look at alternative options, such as Adam Armstrong in the Anytime Goalscorer market at a generous 2/13.00. The division's top goalscorer has struck seven times in nine starts, averaging a goal every 113 minutes.

The 26-year-old boasts a fearsome 0.56 Expected Goals (xG) per-90 figure, whilst attempting multiple efforts at goal in all nine of his starts. The Saints hitman has also hit the target in seven of those nine league encounters in 2023/24, suggesting he'll be a major menace here.

With Stoke having shipped two goals or more in four of their last five fixtures, Saints' impressive firepower should be capable of breaching the Potters backline and Armstrong looks a touch too big to bag in Staffordshire.