B Team Preview: Saints vs Newcastle

Saints vs Newcastle United

Premier League 2

Staplewood Campus

Friday 5th November, 12pm BST

It’s been a period of real development for Southampton’s B team during the month of October, drawing one and winning three of their four Premier League 2 games.

Last-time-out may well have been the pick of the bunch, breezing past high-flying Aston Villa 4-0 at Staplewood Campus.

Nathan Tella marked his return to PL2 football with a goal from the spot on 24 minutes, before Thierry Small made it two with his first Saints strike in first half stoppage time.

Lewis Payne sealed the points with two strikes during the second half to cap an impressive Sunday afternoon.

Newcastle were involved in a 2-2 draw at home to Norwich last out, Jay Turner-Cook and a Jack Young penalty with the goals for the Magpies.

A win for the visitors could see them rise to as high as third, whilst Dave Horseman’s side would leapfrog Newcastle into the top six with three points.

It was an evening of celebrations last time Saints met Newcastle in Premier League 2 back in May 2019.

The two sides faced off in the Premier League 2 play-off final at St Mary’s Stadium, with Saints having just missed out on the Premier League 2 title to Wolves on goal difference.

Dan Nlundulu opened the scoring on 39 minutes before Tyreke Johnson made it two on 54 minutes.

Magpies skipper Owen Bailey grabbed a goal back with nine minutes to go but Saints held on in front of 1,552 spectators to seal promotion.

With his side on a good run, Horseman is looking forward to the visit of Newcastle on Friday, saying: “The boys against Villa were really professional. It was a slightly older group and that really helped.

“We watched Newcastle against Aston Villa and they’ve got a couple of decent front men, they’re a strong, well organised team.

“It will be a tough game but like we’ve said all along we’re not fearful of anybody, we’re respectful.

“If we perform like we did against Villa then we’ll win more often than not.”