Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Southampton and Swansea City!

The Saints go into today's game knowing that they still need to kickstart their season after recording just one win in six Premier League games this term.

The Swans have also been a little up and down thus far, producing some standout performances to beat Manchester United and earn a draw away at Chelsea, but then losing against the likes of Watford.

Team news are now filtering through...

SOUTHAMPTON STARTING XI: Stekelenburg, Cedric, Fonte (c), van Dijk, Bertrand, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, S. Davis, Mane, Tadic, Pelle

SWANSEA STARTING XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Williams (c), Fernandez, Taylor, Cork, Ki, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Ayew, Gomis

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: K. Davis, Yoshida, Long, Rodriguez, Romeu, Martina, Juanmi

SWANSEA SUBS: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Bartley, Britton, Routledge, Montero, Eder

Given that the last fixture for both sides was a League Cup third round in which many changes were made, it is no surprise to see wholesale switches back to the establish players - so we have five for Southampton and nine for Swansea.

Notable points in the home side's team selection include the return to the starting XI of Graziano Pelle and Ryan Bertrand, who have recovered from a knock and a long-term knee injury respectively, and the omission of Maya Yoshida, with Cedric Soares taking his place at right-back.

As for the visitors, they line up in a diamond formation, with Jefferson Montero consigned to the bench.

Franck Tabanou is another omission, as he has been unable to shake off the lasting effects of the cramp he picked up midweek in the League Cup.

It's still early days, but Ronald Koeman's side is not having the best time at the moment. They are 16th in the Premier League table, having won just once in six games.

The Dutch manager will obviously be disappointed by the likes of a 3-0 loss at home to Everton, but what might be slightly more concerning was his side's inability to turn draws against Watford, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion into wins.

In the early stages of last weekend's clash with Manchester United, it looked as though the tide might be slowly turning as the home side put the United defence under real strain. However, they eventually capitulated to the lose the game through what Koeman described as a 'lack of belief'.

Despite the loss, what will have pleased the Southampton manager was his team's threatening demeanour down the flanks and the return to form of Graziano Pelle, while Sadio Mane also looked menacing.

Swansea are faring much better, sitting fairly comfortably in eighth place, but there remains room for improvement overall.

They have beaten Manchester United and earned a draw against Chelsea, but they have also lost at Watford and earned a meagre draw against Sunderland, so in terms of getting some consistency in place, it's something that Monk needs to look at.

AUDIO PREVIEW: With just half an hour to go until kickoff, listen to our dedicated audio match preview, with our finest pundits going over the fixture in extensive detail.

The Swans come into this game having just been knocked out of the League Cup by Hull City, but they do have a hard-fought draw against Everton to look back on as their last fixture in the league.

Monk will be hoping that both Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew can continue their standout form into the weekend, with the frontmen scoring four and three goals so far respectively. The Welsh side will also be hoping to continue with their strong showings at the back, which have left them ranked sixth in the league in terms of defensive performances.

As kickoff edges ever closer, let's look at what the two managers have had to say ahead of the fixture.

First off Koeman, who told reporters: "Like us, Swansea in my opinion is an example of how you have to do the football business.

"They have a very good coach and manager, they try to play attractive football. They lost some good players, signed some other good ones and are still fighting for a high position in the table.

"We can compare Swansea to our team and that's maybe the reason it's a difficult game for both teams."

And this is Monk's take on what lies ahead: "The way I am getting asked things is as if we are reaching for the panic button or something. We have only lost one game in the Premier League, let's not forget that.

"I think these questions stem from the Watford performance, which we were disappointed with and didn't see coming.

"But the nature of this sport is that you get setbacks. What is important is you react to them well and we did that against Everton to get a good point."

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Some interesting stats from this game - the away side has won 1-0 in the last three Premier League meetings, while just seven goals have been scored in the last six encounters. A 1-0 Swansea City win? If only football was that straightforward!

There is no denying that the Saints have been experiencing a poor run of form, however - they have only won two of their last 12 Premier League matches.

Koeman's side has engineered itself more towards aerial attack - they have made a league-high 131 crosses from open play this season, and three of their seven league goals so far have been headers - they only scored three headed goals in the whole of last season's Premier League.

As for Swansea, they have conceded just three goals in their last five Premier League games, but have failed to score in their last two league games. They last went three without scoring in May 2013 under Michael Laudrup - again, pointing towards a low-scoring game?

And to finish off the head-to-head and history, some pure superstition - the Swans have won just three of their 16 Premier League games in the month of September. I would throw in the Green Day song title "Wake Me Up When September Ends", but clearly they would be performing better if they weren't sleeping during the games.

(You see folks, this is why I don't do comedy. I'll stick to my day job shall I?)

PREDICTION: With just under ten minutes to go, it's time for me to have a stab at a possible result. Given the impressive form of Gomis and Ayew, not to mention the sturdy Swans defence, I'll stick to the beaten path and say Southampton 0-1 Swansea.

Could we see another shot like this from Jonjo Shelvey against the Saints? Or will Graziano Pelle draw from his good home form (14 of his 16 league goals for the Saints have come at St Mary's)? Stay tuned to Sports Mole and find out blow by blow!

Just over 10 minutes until kick-off at St Mary's - just enough time to watch this Jonjo Shelvey goal again! #SOUSWA https://t.co/94T9DMvyXs

— Swansea City FC (@SwansOfficial) September 26, 2015

The teams come out, just the formalities to get through...

On a sunny day in the South Coast, the hosts are in their traditional red and white home strip, while the visitors are in their green and dark blue hoops.

KICKOFF: Swansea get the action underway.

Somewhat of a scrappy start from both teams as first Swansea, then Southampton, give the ball away cheaply.

Tadic heads down the left wing with some neat footwork and plays the ball in to Pelle at the top of the box, but the Italian miscues his shot. Moments later, Tadic's follow-up ball falls to Mane, who blazes over from long range.

CHANCE! What a letoff for Southampton! A free kick which finds its way to Shelvey allows him to let rip from 25 yards, forcing Stekelenburg into a save, before Ki rifles over on the rebound!

CHANCE! More danger coming Swansea's way as Ayew has his pocket picked on the halfway line, allowing Saints to drive forward - Pelle somehow squeezes a throughball to Mane, who sends his close-range shot bobbling just outside the far post!

First blood to Southampton, and it's an unlikely scorer in defender Van Dijk! Ward-Prowse curls a corner in towards the near post and the Dutchman sheds past Cork to nod the ball inside the upright for the opening goal!

That's Southampton's first set piece goal of the Premier League season, and they have another chance from the dead ball as Pelle earns his side another corner. Once again it's not properly cleared by the visitors but Mane can only slice his volley onto a Swansea head and so the danger is gone.

Cork is caught in possession inside his own half and Mane rolls a pass down the channel for Tadic, but it's eventually dealt with. Swansea are under siege here and seem unable to deal with the incisiveness of Southampton's forays.

For all of Southampton's forays, they're leaving themselves exposed at the back as Shelvey is given time and space to attempt a strike from distance, but despite his winner last season at St Mary's coming in similar fashion, this effort is nowhere near as good and soars over the bar.

CHANCE! Now it's Ki, Montero's replacement in the starting XI, who decides to try his luck from long range. He latches onto Shelvey's pass 25 yards out and thumps a low effort towards the bottom corner but Stekelenburg gets down low to parry before the defence gets it clear.

Swansea win a free kick just 20 yards out, but Southampton fans did not have hearts in mouths for too long as Sigurdsson's effort takes a deflection off Van Dijk and goes out for a corner, which comes to nothing.

It's safe to say that Swansea are now in control of possession and are showing intent in their opponent's half, but Southampton could be happy to play rope-a-dope and catch them on the counter.

Some handbags here as Mane gets penalised for a foul on Taylor, before Williams approaches him and gives him a shove. The referee comes across and says a few stern-looking words to the Swansea captain.

Now it's Saints who push forward, with Wanyama marauding forward through the middle and slipping his ball into the path of Pelle, but just as the Italian attempts to play in Mane, Taylor slides in to take the ball away from him inside the box. Clean, clinical and textbook.

A cross comes in from Tadic on the left and Pelle, looking for his fifth of the season, flicks his header over from 12 yards. Half-chance at best.

Ward-Prowse plays in Tadic, who lashes a first-time cross into the box which is cleared as far as Mane, who stings Fabianski's palms with an effort from 25 yards.

Pelle is flagged offside as he moved forward a little too early to connect with Mane's pass, but he clatters into Fabianski in the process, leaving the goalkeeper briefly needing medical treatment on the pitch - he gets up without much of a hitch though.

BOOKING: We have our first card of the game, and it falls to Wanyama, who is found guilty of tripping Sigurdsson as he launched a counterattack.

Davis sends the ball into the feet of Mane 20 yards from goal, the latter then opting to go for glory, but he gets it all wrong and fails to trouble Fabianski.

Three additional minutes are announced as Cedric gifts the ball to Ayew on the halfway line, but the Ghanaian's pass, intended for Gomis, is overhit and allows Stekelenburg to charge out and clear.

Fonte launches a free kick long into the Swans box, but it flies straight into the arms of Fabianski as the whistle is blown on the first half.

Roger East puts an end to the opening half at St Mary's and the lead belongs to Southampton, who opened the scoring 10 minutes in through Virgil van Dijk's header from a corner. Both sides have traded blows, with the pendulum swinging both ways throughout the first 45 minutes.

The visitors have looked dangerous at points, but on the whole looked short of width and vulnerable to the counterattack - there's plenty more in this game though, and as long as the score is 1-0, anything can happen, a moment of magic or madness can change it in a heartbeat.

Southampton have had 45 percent possession, compared to Swansea's 55 percent, but the hosts have had the better of the total chances, with eight to the opposition's five. Nevertheless, both sides are even with two shots on target each.

Here's Van Dijk's goal - the Dutchman's towering header has given Saints the lead, but will they still be celebrating come the final whistle? You know what to do - stay here and keep following Sports Mole's live text commentary, and you will find out how this match goes on, blow by blow!

© Getty Images

For a more succinct rundown of the first-half action, Sports Mole also brings you half-time match reports of this and every Premier League game, fresh out of the oven. And come the final whistle we'll be bringing you full match reports and extensive reaction from managers and players, so you know Sports Mole is the place to be for all your Saturday football (and every other day of the week of course).

And if anyone can remember my prediction before the game, you will know why I am not a betting man. Don't think I've nailed a single one yet this season!

Swansea are already out for the second half, Saints will be coming out shortly.

Garry Monk is also waiting to make a few substitutions in a bid to get back into the game... looks like Eder and Jefferson Montero will be coming on, but I'll confirm this once it's official.

KICKOFF: We're back underway, and the substitutions have been confirmed as Eder for Bafetimbi Gomis and Montero for Jack Cork.

CHANCE! Tadic curls a cross into the box which Williams can only nudge on towards the back post, but Ward-Prowse nods wide of the far corner. Good start from the hosts.

Eder wins an aerial ball, getting the better of Davis, before spinning and rifling an effort towards goal. I say towards goal, I think it flew above the stadium and out, never mind above goal. Needless to say it wasn't the best chance, and the home fans cheer ironically. Things can only get better...

And Saints double their lead - it looks like a long way back for misfiring Swansea! Pelle lofts a ball into the path of Tadic, who gets to the byline and whips into the centre, where a deflection off Ki sees it dumbfound Fabianski and loop into the far corner!

This leaves Monk with a dilemma as to what to do now - he's already made two substitutions, which have yet to make an impact on the action - though Eder's effort may make the social media rounds - with Southampton dominating possession since the restart.

Swansea are attempting to mount a decent spell of pressure by holding onto the ball inside the Southampton half and trying to get it forward, but the Saints defence is well drilled and withstands the threats.

Well folks, unless the stars align so that Swansea can muster up a miracle at the same time as Southampton completely losing the plot, this game is over.

Bertrand marauds down the left wing before cutting the ball back to Pelle, with Williams charging down the Italian's effort, but the centre-back can only dash it straight to Mane, who controls and slots an accurate finish beyond Fabianski and into the bottom corner.

SUBSTITUTION: Koeman reacts to the third goal by bringing on Oriol Romeu for Steven Davis.

End to end action now as Sigurdsson has a shot from distance deflected out of play for a corner, and from Shelvey's delivery, a Saints counterattack emerges, which ends with Wanyama's cross being gathered by Fabianski.

Good link-up play from Tadic and Pelle leads to a free kick for Southampton in a dangerous position, but Van Dijk's effort is eventually thwarted by Fabianski.

CHANCE! Fabianski is called into action once again as he keeps out a glancing Pelle header from a corner. A fourth for Southampton really appears on the cards now...

Sigurdsson, Montero and Taylor all combine to create a chance for Shelvey from 15 yards out, but the Englishman's effort is charged down by Fonte.

SUBSTITUTION: Southampton's Jay Rodriguez, who scored two goals in midweek against MK Dons, comes on to replace Dusan Tadic.

BOOKING: Shelvey is shown a yellow card for scything down Van Dijk.

Swansea have a possible shout for a penalty as Ayew goes through on goal and appears to be held back, but nothing is given as Stekelenburg comes out and claims the ball.

SUBSTITUTION: Garry Monk replaces the recently booked Jonjo Shelvey with Leon Britton.

BOOKING: Romeu is shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Eder near the halfway line.

PENALTY! Taylor is caught by Fonte in the box, and the referee points to the spot! Sigurdsson to take...

The Iceland international converts the penalty with a ferocious shot to the high centre of the goal, and Swansea have a goal back! Consolation, or game on?

SUBSTITUTION: Koeman decides to make his final substitution, swapping Mane for Juanmi - some nervousness creeping into the hosts on the pitch no.

Montero skins Cedric and crosses to the back post, where Ayew heads towards goal, but Stekelenburg saves well to his left.

Four minutes of stoppage time here at St Mary's and it looks like the hosts have clinched this one.

The visitors are refusing to give up and continue to apply the pressure in the closing stages, but the Saints defence is not letting anything pass. Not long for them to claim their second league win of the season.

CHANCE! Pelle picks up a pass inside the box and has a sight of goal, but he blazes his shot well over the top. The Italian could have capped it off there.

The referee blows the final whistle and puts an end to the action here at St Mary's, with Southampton clinching their second Premier League of the season with a solid 3-1 win against Swansea City.

A header from Virgil van Dijk, a Ki Sung-yeung own goal and Sadio Mane's rebounded finish put Ronald Koeman's side three goals up, and despite a nervy finish which saw Gylfi Sigurdsson nick a goal back from the penalty spot, it's three points to the Saints.

That's all we've got time for here, but stay on Sports Mole as we'll be bringing you all the latest updates and reaction from this and all other Premier League games today - thanks for tuning in and enjoy the rest of the weekend!

© Getty Images