Southampton vs Newcastle: pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line-ups

Olly Hawkins

With World Cup fates being sealed left, right and centre, the latest international break was a little more bearable than usual, however the return of Premier League football is a welcome one as always.

Our trip to St Mary’s is not only a long one, but one we’ve often struggled in if recent history is anything to go by. We’ve lost our last four by an aggregate score of 13-1, conceding 11 in our last three – not that I expect this current side to fold like previous ones clearly have done over the years.

Quite incredibly, Southampton have failed to score in eight of their last nine home Premier League matches, with the exception being a 3-2 win against West Ham in August.

In contrast we’ve conceded just 10 goals in our last 13 Premier League games under Benitez – never conceding more than twice in a match. The last time we shipped three in a top flight game was our last visit to St Mary’s, being the 3-1 defeat in April 2016 – famously remembered for Jamaal Lascelles’ half-time rant aimed at those he believed ‘did not care enough’.

It’s interestingly poised this one. Southampton are a decent footballing side, but as the remarkable stat above suggests, they’ve been seriously short of goals at home for a while now. We ourselves have only scored 1 goal in three away from home this season, so whilst we should be looking to stay organised and frustrate a toothless looking Southampton attack, I’m hoping to see a little more cutting edge from us in the final third – especially when there’s so much to suggest this one could be settled by the odd goal.

It is worth noting that Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino was Benitez’s understudy for several years in Italy and also played under the Spaniard at Liverpool. Rafa has admitted that this may give Sunday’s opposition manager a slight insight into our tactical approach, however Benitez has responded to this potential advantage brilliantly as ever – “He knows everything about me so he has an advantage. But then he was my player, so maybe I know all about him!”

The Team

Rafa made a habit of rotating his side each week last season, but with our schedule being far more spread out than it was last year, Benitez has made far less regular changes and I’m not anticipating many once again this weekend. We could well see the same side who earned a hard fought draw against Liverpool two weeks ago.

Lejeune is going to be a first choice centre back before long, but Rafa has been given no reason to drop either of Lascelles or Clark in recent weeks – unless of course the latter has come back from international duty with Ireland a little worse for wear.

With Dummett out injured, Mbemba has often been our stand in left-back for most of the season, however he was dropped form the squad last time out, seeing Javier Manquillo fill in. The Spaniard did relatively well against the in-form Mo Salah and given he has spent the last two weeks training on Tyneside while Mbemba has been on international duty with Congo, there’s every chance Manquillo will keep his place. He’s perhaps not as solid defensively as Mbemba, but Benitez likes ‘balance’ and Manquillo is the more natural full-back of the two.

Yedlin has had a long and disappointing trip away on international duty, seeing the USA fail to qualify for the World Cup this week. He will have been back on Tyneside in good time for Sunday’s game, but there’s a slim chance he’s rested by Rafa given he’s played 3 hours of football since his outstanding performance against Liverpool. Hopefully not, but you never know with Benitez.

Now to the midfield. Hayden was poor at Brighton in our last away game, paving the way for the exciting partnership of Shelvey and Merino to be tested against Liverpool. Given we were not overrun by a very attack minded Liverpool side, there’s no reason why the pair won’t continue in the middle of midfield this weekend.

Following the Liverpool draw, Atsu and Ritchie were both forced to withdraw from international duty with Ghana and Scotland respectively. Fortunately, it’s emerged that the pair will be fit enough to make the squad on Sunday. Whether both start remains to be seen however.

Perez continues to frustrate offensively, but his constant running, ability to defend from the front and fit into Benitez’s tactical plan appears to be the main reason he continues to be selected. Ahead of him will almost certainly be Joselu – a man who was in dire need of a goal last time out and got one – albeit rather fortuitously. It was a huge moment for the hard working Spaniard nonetheless. Hopefully he can take confidence from that and have a bit more of a spring in his step against a decent looking Southampton defence.

The Opposition

 As I alluded to earlier, Southampton have been seriously lacking goals this season. Aside from the three they scored in their 3-2 win at home to an awful West Ham side in August, they haven’t scored a single goal at St Mary’s this season in four other attempts.
With that in mind, it seems star striker Manolo Gabbiadini is struggling to regain the form he showed last season – not that we can afford to give the likes of him or Charlie Austin any extra space in and around the box. Shane Long has tended to start for them this season and could do again on Sunday. He’s not prolific but tends to cause us problems.
Dusan Tadic and Nathan Redmond are two others we’ll have to keep an eye on. The latter often flatters to deceive, but is capable of the odd explosive moment. Tadic has gone a little off the boil in recent season, but remains a clever playmaker on his day.
 
Oriol Romeu and Mario Lemina are believed to have struck up a promising partnership in central midfield from what a few Southampton fans have told me. The former is a real spoiler who likes to break up the play, whilst Lemina, like Merino, appears to have caught the eye since his £18m move from Juventus in the summer.
Defensively they look very strong – on paper at least. For what they’ve lacked in goals over the last 12 months they’ve made up for in clean sheets. Top class centre-back Virgil Van Dijk has returned to the first team recently, however he looks far from settled after failing to secure his dream move to Liverpool over the summer.
Either side of him, Cedric and Bertrand are two very decent full backs, meaning Atsu and Ritchie will have a task on their hands at both ends of the pitch, whilst former NUFC youngster and man mountain Fraser Forster offers a big obstacle to get past in net.
For more on Sunday’s opposition, see this weeks edition of  ‘The Oppostion Opinion’ where we’ve gained the thoughts of Southampton fan Andrew ahead of the game.

Form

Newcastle (9th – 10 points) – Last 5 in the league – Won: 3 / Drawn: 1 / Lost: 1

 

Southampton (12th – 8 points) – Last 5 in the league /  Won: 1 / Drawn: 1 / Lost: 3

Team News

Christian Atsu and Matt Ritchie were both forced to withdraw from international duty last week, however Benitez has confirmed the pair will be included in the squad.

Once again Paul Dummett and Massaido Haidara are the only absentees through injury.

Jonjo Shelvey fractured his finger in training last week, however the midfielder will be fit enough to face the Saints – as long as he doesn’t take throw ins according to Rafa!

Ironically, NUFC’s summer target Matty Targett appears to be the only absentee for the home side, with Shane Long having recovered from a knock.

 

Predicted Line-ups

Newcastle United XI – (4-2-3-1) – Elliot – Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo – Shelvey, Merino – Ritchie, Perez , Atsu – Joselu

Southampton XI (4-2-3-1) – Forster – Cedric , Yoshida, Van Dijk, Bertrand – Romeu, Lemina – Tadic, Davis, Redmond – Long

 

Head-to-Heads

As you can see, we’ve tended to ship a goal or two against Southampton over the years. Hopefully we don’t see a repeat performance, however I wouldn’t bank on it given our defensive resilience and their offensive limitations so far this season. I can never be too sure mind. This is Newcastle United after all!

Match Prediction

 I’ve got a good feeling about this one IF we can get off to a strong start. Pellegrino is under pressure and I’ve been told by a Southampton season ticket holder that the atmosphere will become toxic if they don’t start well.
On the flip side, some may say they’re due a goal and a good performance, but I believe we could make it a pretty difficult afternoon for them and their under fire manager if we get at them from the off and play with the sort of organisation and desire we showed against Liverpool.
We’ll have to be better going forward than we were at Brighton and Huddersfield if we want to win this, but you’d have to hope we’ll be the more confident of the two sides. For that reason I fancy us to nick it.

Prediction: Southampton 0-1 Newcastle

Howay the lads!

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

View all posts by Olly Hawkins →

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87 thoughts on “Southampton vs Newcastle: pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line-ups”

  1. Liverpool had 63% possession and 19 shots to Man U’s 6.

    Against us they had 67% possession and 17shots to our 8.

    Is everybody going to say it was a tactical masterclass from Mourinho?

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  4. Thanks Olly, proper bogey team the Saints, all the same I would like to think we are capable of getting a point there. Need to make the most of the next few games cause we got some tough games coming up.
    Tadic is a very clever player , you’re right, talking of Serbs, I would like Mitro to get some time tomorrow.

    Chelsea just levelled against Palace 1.1 now. Palace have Zaha back and sound like they are playing very well, typical with us facing them next week.

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  6. Palace on live here. They started like a house on fire but pretty even now. Townsend playing well as part winger, part number 10. Palace defense at 6s and 7s everytime Chelsea are around their box and from set pieces.

    When we play them I wouldn’t be surprised if they have more of the ball but their defense is an accident waiting to happen. On paper they do not have a bad team and I cannot understand how they went 7 losses and no goals.

    Palace score again.

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  8. kimtoon:
    Eric , I will check out that Shearer interview when I’ve time .

    Its the sort of thing you can put on in the background whilst you’re doing something else. They are just sitting around a table and there aren’t any clips from his playing days.

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  10. Thanks for nothing Chelsea, just what palace needed a moral boosting win and Zaha back just before they play us 👿

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  12. City put 7 past Stoke ??. They look awesome at the moment.

    As an aside, have you noticed how we don’t have many injuries these days… we used to be top of the injury list pretty much constantly, but these days only 2 long term and that’s it…

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  13. What’s this I keep reading about Perez defending from the front? Given a fifty fifty ball Perez will always hold off.

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  14. My goodness Arsenal have been poor this season – but Conte seems to have slipped under the radar. Chelsea are doing just as bad, worse in fact given they were Champions last season!

    If we win tomorrow (big ask), we will be level with both of them. Wtf.

    Well done Watford. Doing great.

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  15. Sham: everybody was saying last year that Arsenal had great players and were underachieving. They didn’t and now they are worse because 2 of their best players are in a huff. It is unbelievable they let Sanchez, Ozil and Ox’s contracts run down (even though I think Ox is only slightly above average and probably Stoke level).

    And Chelsea didn’t improve when everybody else did, so if they got any injuries they might struggle, especially with CL. I watched both games and both teams were average. They will still beat a lot of teams but I expected them 5th and 6th. They can’t be written off because they have 2 of the best managers in the game but you have to question their back offices. It’s like they were being run by Carr and Charnley.

    Who knows why Chelsea loaned Loftus Cheek. We see him next week.

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  16. Dubai Toon:
    City put 7 past Stoke . They look awesome at the moment.

    As an aside, have you noticed how we don’t have many injuries these days… we used to be top of the injury list pretty much constantly, but these days only 2 long term and that’s it…

    Bloody good point mate Rafa team seem to be working wonders on the injury front we are normally down half a dozen players by now

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  17. Martin Keown needs to be added to the list of idiot ex-footballer pundits. He said that Arsenal are better without Sanchez and Ozil after a draw at Chelsea. For the past few years they have been their top scorer and top assister. No you fking idiot, they needed someone to provide another outlet for Ozil and to allow Sanchez to not try to do everything on his own. They got that in Lacazette, but now a 20 goal a year striker and a mainstay of German World Cup winning team are leaving.

    He wrote a whole article vehemently defending Rooney about 6 months ago saying he should remain in the England team and Man U should pick up his contract option. I let that slide, but now he is proving Merse-like in his ineptitude as a pundit.

    I am just glad he doesn’t do score predictions as I am sure he would have us on no points.

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  18. So, Mackems drew at home against a mediocre team and stay second bottom. None of the relegated teams of the last 2 years are even in a playoff spot even though the parachute payments give them a massive advantage.

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  25. shamrock:
    Cant watch it in this Country Eric.

    I wonder why they do that? I can’t watch any links from NUFC.com. Also, the match on Radio Newcastle was blocked here and so was Test Match Special. Some licensing thing, but it was annoying.

    They have a pay test match cricket service now. The problem is that it is sponsored by some bloody Indian money service and between literally every over they would show an ad on how to send money back to India. The same ad literally about 15 times an hour. This is usual for American TV but not the same ad. It got so annoying it was better to cancel than throw shoes at the telly.

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  26. Grayson really should be sacked shouldn’t he? 12 games and 8 points and 2nd bottom. A lot of the players were bought for the PL and even though they didn’t turn out to be that quality they should be able to give the Championship a go. The problem is, who would take it on? I bring it up again to have a laugh but to highlight how well Rafa did, especially as as I have mentioned before none of the other teams that were relegated in the past 2 years are currently in a playoff spot.

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  27. Watching Brighton-Everton and hoping for a draw. I don’t want Koeman to be sacked and don’t think there is much chance of relegation. The more the merrier near the bottom and I think Brighton are in a relegation struggle so I don’t want them to pick up 3 points.

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  29. Eric Sykes:
    Watching Brighton-Everton and hoping for a draw. I don’t want Koeman to be sacked and don’t think there is much chance of relegation. The more the merrier near the bottom and I think Brighton are in a relegation struggle so I don’t want them to pick up 3 points.

    ime watching it as well,two very poor teams Everton playing with ten men really as Rooney is awful

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  31. Rafa stays true to form. Clark and Merino out and that can only be down to them playing international.

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  32. I think if we can score first today, we have an excellent chance of winning the game. Benitez has the team so well organised this season that we are really hard to break down.
    Battle of the fullbacks today I reckon coz they are 4 who all like to get forward.

    We haven’t won away to Saints in such a long time, I’d be happy to see a point on the board today, 3 would be superb.

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  33. There was a rumour/exclusive that Rafa was in the frame if Koeman gets sacked. It was from The Sun’s Neil Ashton so I wouldn’t worry too much. They have him on TV over here for 5 minutes before a lot of games to give the inside scoop. He is full of himself and full of ****.

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  35. Eric Sykes:
    There was a rumour/exclusive that Rafa was in the frame if Koeman gets sacked. It was from The Sun’s Neil Ashton so I wouldn’t worry too much. They have him on TV over here for 5 minutes before a lot of games to give the inside scoop. He is full of himself and full of ****.

    he would never go there in a month of sundays, if it was the last job in the lge

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  36. Eric Sykes:
    Grayson really should be sacked shouldn’t he? 12 games and 8 points and 2nd bottom. A lot of the players were bought for the PL and even though they didn’t turn out to be that quality they should be able to give the Championship a go. The problem is, who would take it on? I bring it up again to have a laugh but to highlight how well Rafa did, especially as as I have mentioned before none of the other teams that were relegated in the past 2 years are currently in a playoff spot.

    Eric, I think Grayson is doing a Sterling job actually. I’d like to see him stay for the full season so he can manage them in League 1. ??

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  37. Dubai Toon: Eric, I think Grayson is doing a Sterling job actually. I’d like to see him stay for the full season so he can manage them in League 1.

    😆 😆 😆 😆

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  38. Just watching Everton’s penalty, and their player ran forward into the area at the same time as Rooney did when he took the shot. Isn’t that encroachment? Other players are not allowed into the area until after the ball is struck I thought. ..

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  39. DT: Grayson has a really good record of getting teams promoted from League 1 so maybe that was Ellis Short’s cunning plan in appointing him?

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  40. Dubai Toon:
    Just watching Everton’s penalty, and their player ran forward into the area at the same time as Rooney did when he took the shot. Isn’t that encroachment? Other players are not allowed into the area until after the ball is struck I thought. ..

    If it was us the Ref would give a free kick to them. Remember last year when that happened?

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  41. Dubai Toon: Eric, I think Grayson is doing a Sterling job actually. I’d like to see him stay for the full season so he can manage them in League 1. ??

    To be fair to Grayson, I’m not sure any manager could do much with the mackems like. They got £30m for Pickford, and a load of parachute money and they’ve spent sweet FA.

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  42. 1-1 can only assume merino is being rested. Think we’ll miss his influence in the middle. Better tackling than shelvey and probably a better passer

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  44. I am thinking that the team was picked because Rafa had a full 2 weeks to drill them for this game as only Yedlin was away on international duty. I bet we see Merino at some point. Mitro not even on the bench again.

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  47. Looked at The Chronic Live Feed and they have a quote from Pards on the game. You don’t have him as a TV pundit in the UK today do you? We just had Phil Neville as co-commentator on Everton and they should have had 3 penalties according to him!!! He also said Koeman hasn’t figured out where to play Rooney “because he still has a lot to offer” – bus driver? teaboy?

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  48. I disagree with ex-players being co-commentators on the game. I don’t mind in the Studio because that is unavoidable with so many Man U, Liverpool and **** ex-players and their games invariably being on Sky.

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  49. I have a question, all managers, when interviewed have a little lapel badge of a man… I noticed again on Rafas interview … anyone know what it means? All managers seem to wear it.

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  53. Perez has been a bit quiet. I think it might be because has been moonlighting as Dave Gehan, the lead singer of Depeche Mode.

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  56. Bit like the Alimo now this… Can we stop them scoring allowing them all this possession and chances?

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  57. Well a canny first half, but I have a feeling they will score so we need another 1 or 2 I think…

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  59. That’s just horrendous! Elliot is just not good enough. That’s two goals in the last two games he’s been flat footed.

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  62. Stu, he’s missed easier ones than that in the past. That’s the thing with Perez, he can be really ordinary but then score a goal like that.

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  74. I suppose the fact we feel disappointed about drawing at Southampton means we’ve come a long way…

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  75. Gutted to be honest. Definitely points dropped there. Stupid pen to give away as the ball was going harmlessly away. We had a real chance there

    Yedlin was a very very lucky boy, should’ve seen red. Also stupid but given benefit by the ref… doesn’t happen often for the Toon…

    Well I’ll take the draw but feel disappointed with that. I thought it was our time against a bogey team.

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