Match Pack: Saints vs Newcastle

Southampton vs Newcastle United

Premier League

St Mary’s Stadium

Thursday 10th March, 7.30pm GMT

Referee: Kevin Friend

Assistants: Simon Beck, Eddie Smart

Fourth official: Graham Scott

VAR: Andre Marriner

Assistant VAR: Derek Eaton

Saints will be in their traditional red and white striped home kit.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

The hosts will be keen to make Saturday’s heavy defeat at Aston Villa nothing more than a blip having suffered a first defeat in six matches.

Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side were well-beaten on the road but will return to home comforts, where they have won their last four in all competitions.

However, Newcastle arrive on the south coast in a rich vein of form themselves, unbeaten in the Premier League in 2022 and with two wins and a draw from their last three away trips.

Three points for Eddie Howe’s side could lift them 10 points clear of the drop depending on results elsewhere, while Saints could move within two points of Wolves in eighth.

TEAM NEWS

Mohammed Salisu will be assessed after returning to training earlier this week, although the game will come too soon for Nathan Tella who has also rejoined the team sessions.

Ralph Hasenhüttl otherwise has no fresh injury concerns, with Alex McCarthy and Lyanco longer-term absentees.

For the visitors, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson remain out but Allan Saint-Maximin returned off the bench against Brighton on Saturday.

Isaac Hayden, Jamal Lewis and Matt Richie are major doubts, even though the latter has returned to training.

THE MANAGERS

Ralph Hasenhüttl: "I said at the time that it is a little bit strange now to concentrate on a game that you should have played two months ago against a completely different team.

But it is how it is. Theses are how things are changing, but this doesn't affect us."

Eddie Howe: "We’re looking for a performance and a result. They’ve done very well at home this season and that’s for a reason. They play an intense game out of possession. They’ve got some really good patterns of movement in possession. We need to be at our best."

ONES TO WATCH

James Ward-Prowse: Scoring on his last outing at St Mary's, the Saints captain is looking to score in a third consecutive game against Newcastle.

Never far from the heart of the action, Ward-Prowse's set-piece delivery, whether shooting or crossing, will once again prove a vital part of Southampton's attacking arsenal.

Reunited with his former Bournemouth manager, Ryan Fraser has been reborn in a black and white shirt.

Shortlisted for February’s Premier League Player of the Month, the Scotland international has carried his form into March with a goal and assist in the win over Brighton last weekend.

Armando Broja 9

Ché Adams 8

Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi 7

James Ward-Prowse 7

Nathan Redmond 6

Kyle Walker-Peters 4

Callum Wilson 6

Allan Saint-Maximin 5

Fraser, Joelinton, Trippier, Shelvey, Willock 2

Saint-Maximin, Fraser 3

Manquillo, Schär, Ritchie 2

Joelinton, Murphy, Longstaff, Krafth, Clark 1

Played: 101

Saints: 37

Draws: 24

Newcastle: 40

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

August 2021: Newcastle 2-2 Saints (Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse)
February 2021: Newcastle 3-2 Saints (Minamino, Ward-Prowse)
November 2020: Saints 2-0 Newcastle (Adams, S. Armstrong)
March 2020: Saints 0-1 Newcastle
December 2019: Newcastle 2-1 Saints (Ings)

DID YOU KNOW?

- Southampton have lost just two of their 20 Premier League home games against Newcastle (W13 D5). Indeed, Saints have won more Premier League home games against the Magpies (13) than they have vs any other side in the competition.

- Southampton are unbeaten in their five Premier League midweek games this season (W2 D3), one of just four sides yet to lose on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in the competition this term along with Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.

- Southampton are unbeaten in 10 home Premier League matches (W5 D5), only twice previously having longer home unbeaten runs in the competition: 13 between May 2002 and January 2003 and 12 between October 2004 and March 2005

- Southampton have won their last four home games in all competitions, last winning five consecutively at St Mary’s back in October 2016 under Claude Puel.

- James Ward-Prowse has scored in each of his last two Premier League games against Newcastle – he’s never netted in three consecutive appearances against an opponent in the competition.

Can't make the game? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all of the action from St Mary’s Stadium, as well as a host of behind-the-scenes access.

Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with all of the live in-game updates and free audio commentary of the match, and be sure to follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:

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