Southampton have established themselves as a good solid Premier League club and team in the last few seasons. The Saints have lost a number of key players and even managers, yet they have remained in a steady position in the English top-flight.
However, there is now a growing trend of underperforming at St Marys that could well lead to trouble for Mauricio Pellegrino’s side this season.
Dating back to last season, Southampton have won just two of their last 12 home games in the Premier League. For any team that is a worrying record, but it is even worse for a team that struggles for goals. That has been one of the Saints main problems.
They have scored just six goals in that run of 12 games in the English top-flight. The fact that all six of those goals came in three games, means Southampton have failed to score in nine of their last 12 home games in the league. That is a frightening stat for any Saints fan.
Last season Southampton fans considered boss Claude Puel’s football defensive and that is born out in the stats. This summer the Frenchman left and Spaniard Mauricio Pellegrino came in as his replacement.
However, the Argentinian is also known as a relatively cautious boss when it comes to style of play. Questions were asked about his appointment on the south coast, but the clubs hierarchy have chosen their bosses well in recent times.
It seems Pellegrino has not yet found an answer to Southampton’s goalscoring problems on home soil. Ironically, although the Saints have not been prolific on their travels in the Premier League, they have scored in seven of their last eight away games.
A 1-0 home defeat by Burnley on Saturday leaves the Saints in 13th place in the Premier League. At the minute, they are five points clear of the relegation zone.
However, if they do not find a way to score goals and win games at St Mary's they may find themselves in a relegation battle this season.