Southampton manager Russell Martin has shared his assessment of Preston North End (PNE) ahead of their meeting at Deepdale. PNE, led by Ryan Lowe, are looking to return to winning ways after a five-game winless streak, including a 1-1 draw with Millwall on Saturday.
Southampton has been in good form, dropping just two points in their last four matches, despite their recent relegation from the Premier League. Martin, who moved to Southampton from Swansea City over the summer, offered his perspective on PNE.
According to Martin, he considers PNE to be a physically strong team with good athleticism. He highlighted their strong defensive organization and their direct style of play. He expects a tough challenge from PNE, noting that every Championship match presents a unique challenge.
He also mentioned PNE’s continuity and consistency in their approach, which has contributed to their current position in the league.
Lowe may make some changes to the PNE lineup for this match, with players like Liam Millar and Milutin Osmajic pushing for a place in the team. Duane Holmes and Will Keane, who didn’t have their best games against Millwall, could be candidates for the bench. Ched Evans and Alan Browne are also mentioned as potential options for Lowe to consider.
Lowe has several options at his disposal and will aim to find the right formula against Southampton, who are expected to have the majority of possession based on Martin’s usual approach.