B Team Preview: Newcastle vs Saints
Southampton’s B team are back in action for the first time since the start of April, visiting Newcastle United in Premier League 2.
Newcastle United vs Saints
Premier League 2
St James’ Park
Monday 25th April, 7pm BST
As the Premier League 2 season starts to draw to a close, Saints have had three weeks away from action following their last competitive action.
That last fixture came at Burnley on April 2nd, where Dave Horseman’s side suffered a late 2-1 defeat, despite Ramello Mitchell giving his side an early lead.
Newcastle were also on the road last time out, visiting Wolves on Monday where they came out on the wrong end of a 4-2 result.
A win for Saints would see them leapfrog Newcastle who sit a place above them in seventh.
The two sides last met at Staplewood Campus back at the start of November.
Kazeem Olaigbe scored a first-half double to set Saints on their way, which was complimented by a goal from Dynel Simeu on the hour mark.
Thierry Small added a fourth on 67 minutes, before Lewis Payne squeezed in a fifth without reply with just over ten minutes to go.
“Newcastle are a good team,” said Horseman, “they have willing front men who look to stretch the game and very industrious ball playing midfielders.
“They are still within a chance of the play-off and normally in stadium games some senior pros play, so it’ll be an excellent test for our team.
“We will be going with a young group to look at next season’s team and with a consideration to helping the Under-18s who have Leicester on Saturday.
“We need to continue to show the really young players that if you perform then there is a quicker pathway into the B team than most teams around the country.”
