Two sides that have lost their last two matches in the Premier League meet at St Mary's this weekend as Southampton host Aston Villa.

The two teams have already played this season, with the hosts knocking Villa out of the League Cup in October, prior to Remi Garde's appointment.

Southampton

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Southampton head into this match off the back of a disappointing result in the quarter-finals of the League Cup, letting an early lead slip in a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool on Wednesday.

Ronald Koeman has admitted that his side have had "poor" balance between attack and defence in recent weeks, scoring lots of goals, but conceding too often as well.

The loss to Liverpool leaves Southampton with defeats in their last three matches in all competitions, as they were beaten by Manchester City in the league last weekend, having lost to Stoke City last month as well.

Despite their recent struggles, the Saints still sit in the top half of the table ahead of this weekend's round of fixtures, helped by their strong goal-scoring form. The team have failed to find the back of the net in just one of their last nine fixtures in the league.

With 20 goals so far this season, Southampton have the joint-seventh highest total in the top flight, level with Manchester United, while five clean sheets and 17 goals conceded gives the side an above-average defence.

Southampton have produced their best performances away from home this season though, with three of their four league defeats coming at St Mary's, although two thirds of their goals have been at their own stadium.

Recent form: DDLLWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWLLL

Aston Villa

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Remi Garde is still looking for his first win as Aston Villa manager following his appointment as Tim Sherwood's successor in October.

The Frenchman made a bright start to life in charge at Villa Park, holding Manchester City to a goalless draw, but the side have suffered defeats to Everton and Watford since then, keeping the team rooted to the foot of the table, seven points from safety.

Villa have won just one of their 14 Premier League matches so far this season, but they will be buoyed by the knowledge that that match was an away fixture on the South Coast ahead of their trip to St Mary's, beating Bournemouth on the opening day of the season.

One of Villa's biggest problems has been a lack of goals - the team has found the back of the net 12 times in the first 14 games of the campaign. Only Stoke City have fewer.

Summer signing Jordan Ayew has started to find his feet in recent weeks though, netting three times in his last six appearances in all competitions for the team, including in their League Cup defeat to this weekend's opponents in October.

Villa have also been leaking goals at the back, conceding 27 times so far this season. Only Newcastle and Bournemouth, who also sit in the relegation zone, have let in more. Garde's side have just one clean sheet in their last 13 league outings.

Recent form: LLLDLL
Recent form (all competitions): LLLDLL

Team News

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Having picked up his fifth booking of the season last time out, Ciaran Clark misses out for the visitors through suspension, while Jack Grealish is still absent from the first-team squad for off-the-pitch disciplinary issues.

Gabriel Agbonlahor has been back in training this week, and could make his first appearance in a month, while Gary Gardner is also expected to be available, leaving Jordan Amavi as the only injury absentee following his ACL tear.

Southampton will be hoping that captain Jose Fonte passes a late fitness test after being forced out of the defeat to Man City with a knee injury, which kept him out of the loss to Liverpool earlier this week.

Jay Rodriguez is still recovering from recent foot surgery which is expected to keep him out for several more weeks, while Fraser Forster and Florin Gardos are both long-term absentees.

Southampton possible starting lineup:
Stekelenburg, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Caulker, Wanyama, Clasie, Mane, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Pelle

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Guzan, Hutton, Richards, Okore, Richardson, Veretout, Sanchez, Gueye, Traore, Ayew, Agbonlahor

Head To Head

Southampton are unbeaten in their last four matches against Aston Villa, winning their most recent two fixtures, both of which were at St Mary's, including their 2-1 win in the Capital One Cup less than six weeks ago.

Villa's only win in their last seven meetings with this weekend's opponents did come at St Mary's though, with the visitors coming away with a 3-2 win during the 2013-14 season.

There is nothing to separate the two sides over their 61 previous fixtures, with both teams claiming 22 wins each, while 17 games have ended level.

We say: Southampton 2-1 Aston Villa

Both sides need a win, but Southampton were clearly the stronger of the two when they faced Villa just a few weeks ago. With the disappointment of such a heavy defeat during the week the home side will surely be desperate to turn things around, although Villa should be able to make it close against a team that have struggled to keep clean sheets in recent weeks.

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