Ronald Koeman says it will be a very different game when Southampton and Sunderland meet at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Saints recorded the biggest Premier League win in their history when they beat Sunderland 8-0 at St Mary’s earlier in the campaign.
But Koeman is expecting a very different encounter this time around with the Black Cats, under the stewardship of Dick Advocaat, fighting for survival in the Premier League with just five games to keep themselves up.
“Okay, the 8-0 was a crazy day and a crazy win with a lot of own goals,” Koeman told youtube.com/southamptonfc. “I don’t think they will help us like what they did in the first game.
“Normally it will not happen again. That was one day, it will be a different game to the 8-0.
“They have a new coach, a new manager. I know him very well and it’s nice to meet him again.
“Teams who are fighting against relegation is always difficult. The pressure is on them because they play two home games and they need to win both to have the possibility to stay in the Premier League.
“We know what to expect and we have to be prepared for that.
“They don’t have anything for one point, they have to play to win. It’s the same for us. We like to play offensive, to win the game. I think it will be an attractive game this Saturday.”
Liverpool’s defeat to Hull City on Tuesday night means Saints sit just one point behind both Brendan Rodgers’s side and Tottenham Hotspur heading into the final four games.
Koeman says that result gave his side a small boost, but insists they must be on the front foot if they are to finish above the pair come the end of the season.
“It’s always more easy to be one of the two than beat only one,” Koeman added. “That means between us, Tottenham and Liverpool we will decide who goes to the Europa League.
“It’s a tough programme but we know and that’s the same for Liverpool and Tottenham. You have to be ready and if you’re not you don’t win and you don’t get that possibility.”
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