Will the Magpies remain unbeaten this year?
The English Premier League table is hugely lopsided. Some teams have three games of catch-up to play and can still make up decent ground. This week, some of these games will be made up. In a clash on matchday 21, the Saints from Southampton welcome the in-form visitors from Newcastle. With both teams getting good results in recent weeks, we expect an exciting match of equals.
The Magpies have been one of the most successful teams in recent weeks. The Toons are unbeaten for seven games and thus got rid of the worst relegation worries. This is certainly a credit to new coach Eddie Howe, who took over in November. A win at the Saints would put them in touch with a secure mid-table position. However, the bookmakers are sceptical and offer odds of 3.90 for a bet on the visitors in the Southampton v Newcastle match.
The home side suffered a painful defeat at Aston Villa last Saturday after seven games without defeat, missing out on moving closer to the international places. The Red and Whites are certainly eager to make amends. Kick-off at St Mary’s Stadium is at 20:30. Will the Saints be able to stop the Magpies’ run?
Southampton – Statistics & current form
Southampton Football Club fans have had to wait eight matchdays for their first treble. Despite the poor start to the season, those in charge stuck with coach Ralph Hasenhüttl, who has been in charge since December 2018. The trust has since paid off and the Saints have moved into the top half of the table.
From 27 games played, the red and whites have collected 35 points with eight wins and eleven draws. In the table, this currently means ninth place, ten points behind the international starting positions and fourteen points ahead of Burnley, who occupy the first relegation spot. So it will probably end up in a secure midfield position.
Series without defeat ended last weekend
Last weekend the Saints suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat. It was the first defeat after a run of seven competitive games in which the Red and Whites were not defeated
The Hasenhüttl eleven has become a power, especially in their own stadium. Here, the Saints are now unbeaten for twelve games. That certainly justifies the prediction of a win for the hosts in the Southampton vs. Newcastle match.
The Red and Whites have only conceded one defeat on home soil in the league this season. The big problem child is the defence, which proves to be very spotty time and again. Keeper Forster has already had to fish the ball out of his own net 41 times. Only six teams have conceded more goals. The offensive is mediocre with 34 goals scored. The best scorer in their ranks is Che Adams, who has scored seven times so far.
Southampton are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup
Last week the Saints progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win over West Ham United. Here, the Saints welcome Manchester City. First, however, they will have to make up for last weekend’s gaffe, which will be anything but an easy task against the in-form Magpies.
Predicted line-up of Southampton:
Forster – Livramento, Bednarek, Salisu, Walker-Peters – Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Elyounoussi – Broja, Adams
Last matches played by Southampton:
Premier League
03/05 2022 – Aston Villa 4 – 0 Southampton
FA Cup
03/02 2022 – Southampton 3 – 1 West Ham
Premier League
02/25 2022 – Southampton 2 – 0 Norwich
02/19 2022 – Southampton 2 – 0 Everton
02/12 2022 – Manchester United 1 – 1 Southampton
Newcastle – Statistics & current form
If Southampton had to wait until matchday eight for their first treble, the visiting fans’ suffering has been much longer. In the first fourteen games, the Magpies did not record a single victory. This ultimately cost coach Steve Bruce his job and Eddie Howe took over the visitors in nineteenth place. He is expected to bring success back to St. James Park. A hope that seems to be coming true.
After 26 games, the Toons now have a total of 28 points from six wins and ten draws and are in fourteenth place. This has given the black and whites a seven-point cushion on the first relegation spot. With two games left to play, the Black and Whites could even make the leap to a secure mid-table position.
Magpies unbeaten in seven games
Newcastle are currently the team with the best form behind Liverpool. The Magpies are looking back on a run of seven games without defeat. Five wins and two draws have come from these games. Howe’s side’s only defeat this year came in the FA Cup when they were beaten 1-0 by bottom side Cambridge United. On Thursday, the visitors will take on the underdog role for the time being. In the match between Southampton and Newcastle, betting on the black and whites is rewarded with odds of 3.90.
With 30 goals scored, the Toons have the best attack in the lower third of the table. The top scorer in their ranks is Callum Wilson, who has scored six times so far. Whether he will be fit by Thursday after his calf injury, however, remains to be seen. The defence is not looking so good. The defence in front of keeper Dubravka has already conceded 46 goals. Only three teams have conceded more goals than that.
Newcastle first with two away wins
The Magpies have not been very frightening on their opponents’ pitch. Only two victories have been celebrated away from home. However, the Toons picked up those victories in recent away games and are unbeaten away from home for three matches.
Predicted Newcastle line-up:
Dubravka – Krafth, Schär, Burn, Targett – Willock, Shelvey, Joelinton – Murphy, Wood, Fraser
Last matches played by Newcastle:
Premier League
03/05 2022 – Newcastle United 2 – 1 Brighton
02/26 2022 – Brentford 0 – 2 Newcastle United
02/19 2022 – West Ham 1 – 1 Newcastle United
02/13 2022 – Newcastle United 1 – 0 Aston Villa
02/08 2022 – Newcastle United 3 – 1 Everton
Southampton – Newcastle Direct comparison / H2H record
The two teams have dueled in 67 Premier League games so far. The visitors have the edge with 26 wins compared to 23 defeats. According to the bookmakers, the Saints will make up ground on Thursday. In the match between Southampton and Newcastle, the predictions go in the direction of a success for the home side.
In the first leg, the two sides drew 2-2, with the Magpies taking a 91st-minute lead only to concede a 96th-minute equaliser. In their last nine encounters, the hosts have only won one match against the Black and Whites. Last time out, the Red and Whites won their home match with 2-0 goals.
Southampton – Newcastle Tip
We are looking forward to a clash between two teams that have been convincing in recent weeks. Especially the guests look back on an impressive series. The Toons have been unbeaten for seven league games. Nevertheless, the betting companies see the black and whites in the underdog role.
The hosts were rudely halted in their quest for an international berth last weekend. The 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa was their first defeat in seven competitive games. The Saints will be out to make amends.
With both teams in good form, we’re hoping for a goal or two. Also, the fact that both defences do not always make the safest impression leads us to bet on a duel in which at least three goals will be scored in the match Southampton vs Newcastle. The odds for this are 1.80 at the top.
Alternatively, we are betting on the home strength of the Saints, so that in the match Southampton vs Newcastle, at betting odds of 2.00 at the top, the bet on a victory for the Red and Whites is worth a small stake to us.
