Southampton set for Capital One Cup stroll at the Stadium of Light

After gaining four Premier League points on recent visits to Anfield and Old Trafford, an away Capital One Cup tie against struggling Sunderland will hold no fear for Southampton.

Southampton to win @ 31/20

Mauricio Pochettino’s Saints have won five and drawn two of their last seven matches in all competitions.

They were much the better side in their 1-1 draw last time out in the Premier League at Stoke and were only undone by Potters keeper Asmir Begovic’s wind-assisted first-minute goal.

Sunderland may have picked up their first win of the season at home to Newcastle recently, but they reverted to type when going down 1-0 at Hull and have let in more goals than any other Premier League team so far this term.

Guillermo Ramirez to score the first goal @ 8/1

‘Gaston’ Ramirez has been largely ignored by Pochettino since the Argentinean coach took over from Nigel Adkins at the south-coast club, but the Uruguayan has been given run-outs in the Capital One Cup this season.

The former Bologna man rounded off the Saints’ scoring in their 5-1 thumping of Barnsley and bagged the opening goal in his side’s 2-0 win over Bristol City in the last round of this competition

Under 2.5 goals in the match @ 8/11

Southampton’s charge up England’s top division has occurred despite patchy form from their strikers and no other side in the top half of the Premier League has scored fewer goals than Pochettino’s team.

The Saints’ last nine games in all competitions have all produced under two goals, with their last six games hitting that number exactly.

Sunderland have managed more than one strike in just three of their 12 games so far in 2013/14, so the combined profligacy of these teams’ respective strike-forces should see this bet land.