1 unit Southampton to score "over" 1.5 goals 3.0-3.10 general quote.

Good Luck.

Sunderland - Chelsea

Chelsea took part in a thrilling and "bloody" derby encounter with rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Monday and I feel sure that there will be some kind of a let down today after such a physically and mentally draining match, especially with a trip to Anfield in midweek and a final home game of the season with new champions Leicester City next weekend. It will be hard to get "up" for all four fixtures and having given so much in the second half against Spurs, I doubt they are ready for another blood and guts fixture so far from home, with so little at stake. For Sunderland this is their cup final and they have two more to play after this and failure to take something today, combined with a win for Newcastle United at already relegated Aston Villa is going to leave them staring down the Championship abyss.

Ahead of their trip to Stoke City last weekend my notes included ...........

Sunderland won that 3-0 (away to Norwich City) and that result , allied to a 0-0 home draw with Arsenal last week, sees them come into this vital fixture outside the drop zone on goal difference , they could easily have beaten the Gunners ( hit the woodwork and were denied what looked a good penalty shout) and they have clearly played consistently better than any of the other relegation candidates for several months. Now they travel to the Britannia Stadium, which has lost it's fearsome reputation in recent campaigns and City have lost as many matches as they have won here this season. The hosts are in poor form and have won just 5 of 23 starts against EPL opponents since early December and that has gone from bad to worse in the last month since goalkeeper Jack Butland was injured, they have conceded 14 goals in four starts in his absence, including six in their last two home games, he has been(arguably) the most consistent goalkeeper in the top flight this season and has saved 74% of all attempts on target and had just about the best stats in the EPL leading up to his injury and defensively, City have fallen apart in his absence. I have to stick with the visitors and take Jermain Defoe, who incredibly, has like the Black Cats seemed happier on the road and has scored ten of his 13 goals (including his last 7) away from the Stadium of Light.

They were fortunate to earn a draw via a late goal from Defoe , putting in one of their few sub par performances of 2016, but that point could be hugely valuable come the end of the season and they have a chance against anyone with the former England striker still lethal in front of goal, he had eight attempts on goal at the Britannia and whilst he and Sunderland have been scoring more freely on the road, there is no logical reason for that and if they play similarly today as they did against the Gunners and Arsenal were hungry for a result there, they can battle to a result.

1.5 units Sunderland level ball 2.09 asian line/Sportmarket.