BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton will have to make his matchday predictions again after the round of postponements, but he did leave one lasting view on Saints.

The former Blackburn Rovers and Celtic striker turned broadcaster gives his weekly Premier League predictions on each scheduled fixture.

Matchday seven’s games were postponed as a mark of respect following the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, at 96-years-old.

However, Sutton could not call the match between Saints and Brentford – which was set to take place at St Mary’s on Saturday and will now likely happen in 2023.

But he did make a prediction on Saints’ Premier League status, referencing the pressure manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was under at the start of the campaign.

“This fixture is absolutely impossible to predict,” he said. “Last season Southampton won 4-1 at St Mary's then lost 3-0 at Brentford, which kind of underlines how up and down both teams are.

Daily Echo: Hasenhuttl and his coaches (PA)Hasenhuttl and his coaches (PA) (Image: PA)

“The heat was on Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl at the start of this campaign but, from what I've seen, they will win enough games to stay up.”

Many had Saints to be relegated at the start of the season, as they always seem to do, but Hasenhuttl’s side have picked up seven points from six matches.

They earned their first with a 2-2 draw versus Leeds United, before defeating Leicester City 2-1 at King Power Stadium the following weekend.

All seven of their points have come from losing positions, failing to get past Manchester United but then beating Chelsea 2-1 at St Mary’s.

Last time out, they were defeated 1-0 at Wolves’ Molineux leaving Sutton unable to predict which way their fixtures are going.

“Brentford have got goals in them too, as they showed again against Leeds last week,” he added, referencing the now-postponed meeting.

“People didn't expect that kind of attacking performance from the Bees against Manchester United either, although I did. I don't like going for many draws - it feels a bit gutless not to pick a winner - but I can't split these two.”

Saints are due to visit Aston Villa on Friday, September 16 (8PM), if the Premier League give the go-ahead on the upcoming round of fixtures.

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