Sunderland v Southampton: Support a shoot-out at the Stadium of Light

• BTTS has banked in 3/4 Sunderland matches

• Over 2.5 and BTTS has clicked in 4/4 Saints showdowns

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• Claim your free acca or Bet Builder here!

Sunderland v Southampton
Saturday September 2, 12:30
Live on Sky Sports

Sunderland 3.1511/5 boss Tony Mowbray has highlighted his side's need to sign a striker before the close of the transfer window after seeing his Black Cats side play out a 0-0 draw with Coventry last weekend.

Bradley Dack shouldered some of the responsibility while Ross Stewart looks to regain full fitness, but neither he, nor youngster Jobe Bellingham, who has impressed since joining from Birmingham this summer, could break the deadlock against the Sky Blues, leaving the Wearsiders with a solitary success from their opening four fixtures (W1-D1-L4).

Recently-relegated Southampton 2.245/4 haven't endured such problems since dropping down to the second-tier. Saints held off a battling QPR at St Mary's last time out to extend their unbeaten start with a 2-1 home success (W3-D1-L0) - Sam Edozie's first goal for the club and Adam Armstrong's fourth goal in as many league games proving decisive.

However, Russell Martin has been forced into a reshuffle in attacking areas following the departure of Nathan Tella and imminent sale of Che Adams. The Southampton chief handed a start to 17-year-old Sam Amo-Ameyaw while new signings Flynn Downes and Ryan Fraser made their Saints debuts off the bench.

Entertaining encounter awaits

We're only four rounds deep in the Championship campaign, yet goals were a real feature for August with the league averaging 2.85 goals - 60% of showdowns broke the Over 2.5 Goals barrier, whilst 67% of matches delivered profitable Both Teams To Score plays, both of which hold plenty of appeal from a punting perspective here.

Despite Sunderland's lack of available firepower, the Black Cats have still managed to net in three of their first four fixtures, averaging 9.75 shots inside the penalty box.

The Wearsiders have also seen Over 2.5 and BTTS in three of their four early-season encounters, whilst 15/22 (68%) Stadium of Light dates under Tony Mowbray have delivered BTTS.

Southampton's opening four outings have each covered both the Over 2.5 Goals line, and also clicked for Both Teams To Score backers with matches averaging a chunky 4.25 goals.

Only Norwich (2.25 xG) are returning a higher Expected Goals (xG) output than Saints (1.92 xG) across the early stanza with the south coast club averaging 12 shots inside the box.

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With that in-mind, a Both Teams To Score treble involving Sunderland versus Southampton, Swansea versus Bristol City and Rotherham's clash with Norwich returns almost 5/16.00.

The wager has won in 20 of the quartet's combined 24 Championship encounters already this term.