Southampton (A) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
After an incredible October, we enter a new month bidding to keep up this incredible run of form that's seen Eddie Howe's high-flying Mags surge into the top four.
With five wins and a draw in our last six games, the Toon face a trip to Southampton this Sunday in what happens to be our last away game until Boxing Day!
With just one defeat in our last 10 meetings, our recent record against the Saints is a positive one. However, with the stakes high in our penultimate Premier League game before the World Cup, we can't afford to let complacency slip in.
Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham have all failed to win at St Mary's this season, but don't look like a side ready to take our foot off the gas, with team spirit at an all time high, several players in the form of their life and the likes of Callum Wilson one of many pushing to make the World Cup.
On the game, Howe said: “This is a very difficult game. I have a lot of respect their manager. They are difficult to read, change personnel & systems a lot. They’ve had a few key injuries but it’ll be a difficult game.”
Whether you're in the stands on the South Coast or watching Super Sunday on your sofa, let's hope the lads can bring back all three points!
Team news
Joelinton is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend.
Allan Saint-Maximin and Jonjo Shelvey have trained all week, but it remains to be seen if Eddie Howe hands starts to either after both settled for late cameos against Aston Villa.
Alexander Isak (thigh) remains absent and will be missing until after the World Cup break, although it seems Karl Darlow is recovering well after he was spotted in training this week.
For the Saints, full-backs Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker-Peters are still out, but star centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap could return to the side after missing the last three games with a shoulder injury.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Murphy.
With Joelinton suspended, Howe will be forced to make at least one change in this one.
He does have plenty of options, however. Does he recall Jacob Murphy, hand Allan Saint-Maximin his first start since August or bring a fit-again Jonjo Shelvey back into the fold?
I'd like to see ASM, but I can see Murphy getting the nod if the Frenchman isn't ready to start, with him making a real impact from the bench in our 4-0 win over Aston Villa.
As for Shelvey, Howe's pre-match comments suggest he's not ready to start just yet, with him unlikely to be risked too soon just two weeks before the World Cup break.
Predicted Southampton XI: Bazunu - Bella-Kotchap, Caleta-Car, Salisu - Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Diallo, S Armstrong, Perraud - Aribo, Adams.
One to watch: James Ward-Prowse - An obvious one, but in JWP they have a huge threat from set pieces. Whether it's his in-swinging corners or devastating free kicks, he could be their biggest threat. Joel Aribo is a tricky player and big centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap a tough opponent for Callum Wilson if the German talent returns from injury.
Prediction
I have so much confidence in this team right now. Our team spirit is unrivalled, we have the best defence in the Premier League and are scoring goals for fun.
Southampton away has the potential to be a banana skin if we're not at it, but I back us to have too much, with complacency unlikely to slip into our game when the stakes are so high in our hunt for European football.
Wilson to boost his World Cup hopes again in a comfortable win on the South Coast!
Prediction: Southampton 0-2 Newcastle
