Reinvigorated under Ralph Hasenhuttl, Al Hain-Cole expects the Saints to serve up an entertaining clash against Pellegrini’s men at St Mary’s
Southampton will be hoping to see more of the Ralph Hasenhuttl effect when West Ham visit St Mary’s on Thursday.
The Austrian manager has overseen the club’s first consecutive victories of the Premier League campaign in the last two fixtures, as well as their first three-goal hauls since early February.
Latest odds
Having lost just one of their last nine home games against this opposition, his side are 5/4 (2.25) favourites with SportPesa to make it three league wins in a row for the first time since May 2016.
Meanwhile, the Hammers saw their own four-game winning streak brought to an end by a 2-0 defeat against Watford last time out, but are on offer at 23/10 (3.30) to bounce straight back by coming out on top here.
Three of the hosts’ last four home matches have resulted in draws, and there are odds of 49/20 (2.45) available on this one also ending all square.
Team news
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is ruled out through suspension after an accumulation of yellow cards, while Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares are both injury doubts.
Fabian Balbuena and Javier Hernandez are both unlikely to feature after coming off injured against Watford, adding to an injury list that already includes Jack Wilshere, Ryan Fredericks, Andriy Yarmolenko, Carlos Sanchez, Winston Reid and Manuel Lanzini.
However, Lucas Perez and Marko Arnautovic could be in contention to return.
Exciting clash
There is no doubt that the former RB Leipzig boss has brought some much-needed positivity to the Saints, who were both leaking goals and failing to fire in attack under Hughes.
While a lack of clean sheets so far indicates there is still work to be done on the defensive side, six goals in two matches suggests the goalmouth action will be at both ends of the pitch against Manuel Pellegrini’s team.
Predictions
With West Ham also in free-scoring form with 11 goals in the last five, odds of 77/100 (1.77) appear generous on a reinvigorated Southampton ensuring over 2.5 goals for the fifth consecutive meeting between the sides.
Over 2.5 goals at 77/100 (1.77) for a 2pt stake with SportPesa 
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