Away we go again. Eddie Howe’s side face a gruelling three away fixtures in just seven days which starts with this trip to Southampton followed by a visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday then to Goodison Park the following Thursday. Over 3,000 passionate Newcastle fans will make the 632-mile round trip to St Mary’s as the Geordie Faithful show once more why they are amongst the most passionate fans in the country.
After dispatching Brighton on Saturday in a plucky win, Eddie Howe’s side will be brimming with confidence as they extended their unbeaten run to 8 games. Newcastle are just one of the two sides that have started the year undefeated (Liverpool being the other). Manchester City and Liverpool who are the only two other clubs that have registered more points this year.
The Saints on the other hand will be looking for a much-improved performance after they were heavily defeated at the hands at Aston Villa last time out. They will take some comfort in that before the defeat at Villa Park, they had managed to claim 5 wins from their last six fixtures which sees them currently occupy ninth place in the table with a total of 35 points.
Newcastle are seven points clear from the relegation zone and a victory on the road at Southampton will help cement their place in the Premier League for next season. With games coming up against sides in the top six, Eddie Howe will be determined to keep his side focused in a bid to avoid losing position after all the good performances over the recent weeks.
When the sides met earlier in the season at St James Park, they played a 2-2 draw with Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin being on the scoresheet. Although the Saints beat the Magpies in this fixture last season, that was the only time they have beaten Newcastle in their last nine Premier League battles.
Southampton Team News: Hasenhutll is not expected to make many drastic changes to the side that got beat by Villa. Kyle Walker-Peters could return to the side at left back and Nathan Redmond could be recalled to the side. Mohammed Salisu will face a late fitness test because of a tight hamstring, Lyanco is definitely out. Shane Long and Nathan Tella remain doubtful. Fraser Foster is expected to remain in goal with Alex McCarthy being on the treatment table.
Newcastle United Team News: Eddie Howe has no fresh injury concerns from the Brighton game. Allan Saint-Maximin featured in the second half of the victory over Brighton and will no doubt be included in the visit to Southampton. With games coming thick and fast for the Magpies, Howe has stated that he might need to rotate some players around so Bruno Guimaraes could make his first start for his new side. Matt Ritchie has returned to training this week after his lengthy lay off.
Sutty’s Match Prediction: Ralph Hasenhutll will be hoping that his sides defeat at the hands of Aston Villa was just a one off and they will right themselves against a Newcastle United side that is on a good unbeaten run and taking on any team in their way. Had this fixture been played before Eddie Howe and his backroom team took over from the previous regime, I would have backed Southampton to the heavens but with the form the Magpies are in now, I am predicting a close game but for the Magpies to leave St Mary’s with the three points.
@jsuttonwrites
09.03.2022
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