When Rotherham visits today, SAINTS will have an opportunity to win three straight league games for the first time since November 2020.
Russell Martin’s side have won their last two Championship matches, versus Leeds United and Stoke City, and were unchanged for the latter.
It was the first time Martin had named the same XI so far this season and it is unlikely he will be able to do so again, with matches coming thick and fast.
Saints welcome second-bottom Rotherham to St Mary’s in their first league meeting since March 1966 as heavy favourites.
Here’s how we believe Martin will line up against Matt Taylor’s Millers.
Goalkeeper
Gavin Bazunu‘s clean sheet at Stoke was his first of the season and the Irishman will be buoyed despite some shaky claims in his area.
Defenders
Martin should stick with the same back four from the last two fixtures as the Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis partnership grows.
Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Manning flank the two central defenders and have seen their roles tweaked by Martin throughout the season.
Midfielders
Martin called Flynn Downes ‘monstrous’ on Tuesday evening and it is likely that he will keep his place as the anchor of the midfield.
Will Smallbone and Stuart Armstrong, who is unlikely to be able to complete 90 minutes after two successive starts, could also keep their places.
Attackers
Adam Armstrong is shoo-in in the side with seven goals already in the Championship while Kamaldeen Sulemana could give another 45 or 60 minutes.
It’s possible that Che Adams is the sole change, replacing Charly Alcaraz as Martin attempts to re-energize his attack.
The entire anticipated team is as follows:
Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Downes, Smallbone, S Armstrong; A Armstrong, Kamaldeen, Adams.
