Southampton manager Mark Hughes and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte
Southampton manager Mark Hughes and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte

Free football preview and betting tips: Southampton v Chelsea in FA Cup


Nick Hext predicts Chelsea will claim a simple win against Southampton in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Sunday's FA Cup recommended bets

2pts Chelsea to beat Southampton and over 2.5 goals in 90 minutes at 13/10

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record


Southampton v Chelsea (1500 BST, BT Sport 1)

Chelsea stunned Southampton last weekend with a recovery from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at St Mary's thanks to three goals in the final 20 minutes.

That defeat and a 0-0 draw at Leicester on Thursday night has left Saints with it all to do in the battle to survive in the Premier League.

Mark Hughes' side are four points behind Swansea, who sit one place outside the relegation zone, and the Welsh club have a game in hand.

Hughes named an unchanged side for the game against the Foxes but alterations are expected to his starting XI for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

The priority for Saints remains staying in the top-flight and that can help Chelsea, sitting by themselves in fifth with a tough task to qualify for the Champions League, ease to victory and a place in the final.

Blues boss Antonio Conte made six changes to his team for Thursday night's 2-1 win at Burnley and the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Willian and Eden Hazard are set to return to take on the Saints again.

Chelsea's Eden Hazard

Marcos Alonso misses out after being given a retrospective three-match ban for a challenge on Shane Long last weekend.

I'm backing Chelsea to make it six wins in a row from their games against Southampton and I like the look of a victory for the odds-on favourites and over 2.5 goals in the match.

There's 13/10 on offer for that outcome and all of the Stamford Bridge outfit's last eight wins have come in games that have contained over 2.5 goals.

I'm expecting the returning Hazard to play a key role for the Blues.

The Belgium international scored the winner in the 3-2 win over Saints last weekend and he's netted in back-to-back starts for nine of his 19 goals this season.

Hazard is available at a best price of 17/11 to score in a win for Chelsea and that's another way to get with the big odds-on favourites at Wembley.

Score prediction: Southampton 0-3 Chelsea (Sky Bet's odds: 9/1)

Best bet: Chelsea to beat Southampton and over 2.5 goals in 90 minutes at 13/10

Alternative bet: Eden Hazard to score at 17/11


Preview posted at 1520 BST on 20/04/18

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