Southampton picked up a crucial point in midweek at Chelsea and can add to their tally on Monday night against Everton.
It was a wretched start for Saints boss Nigel Adkins in the Premier League, losing eight of his opening ten matches, but his team have rallied wonderfully and have now escaped the drop zone.
Saints have picked up an impressive 18 points from their subsequent 12 matches and if they can continue that form then Adkins and their fans will have no relegation worries come the end of the campaign.
Having trailed 2-0 at half-time at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday things looked bleak for the visitors but strikes from Rickie Lambert and Jason Puncheon after the break earned them a well deserved draw and they have really tightened up defensively of late.
Southampton have conceded an average of just a goal per game over the last dozen matches and that bodes well as they certainly possess a goal threat.
In Lambert they boast the Premier League’s join-top scoring Englishman, along with Jermain Defoe, and Adkins proved his squad have plenty of strength in depth by leaving his star man on the bench against the Champions League holders.
Opponents Everton have impressed again this season under David Moyes, I’m certainly a fan, but the Toffees draw plenty of matches and do struggle to keep clean sheets, too.
It is eight matches since Tim Howard managed to shutout the opposition on the road and Southampton must be fancied at the prices.
Not much bigger than even money to land the spoils, I’m not sure Everton deserve to be such warm orders given the hosts resurgence and I’m happy to take them on, especially on a Monday night in front of the Sky cameras.
2pts Lay Everton (vs. Southampton) @ 2.10 (Betfair)