Next Up: Southampton - Ideal Bounce-back or Potential Banana-skin?

 · January 22 2025, 17:30
Next Up: Southampton - Ideal Bounce-back or Potential Banana-skin?
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There were mixed emotions in the NUFCFEED group chat on the morning of the Bournemouth game. Half of us were confident; Newcastle were scoring goals for fun, backed by our home fans and up against a decimated side that had no recognised striker available.

The other half of us were... uneasy. Anxious. There had been red flags in the Wolves game. Wolves edged the shots on target, had a goal rather unfairly chalked off, and hit the woodwork twice. A couple of players looked leggy in midweek, and some hadn't even been rested for the FA Cup game the previous Sunday. Bournemouth were in good form; and I actually highlighted their form (and their incredible record against Newcastle under Eddie Howe) in my preview for that game.

It always felt like if any team was going to show up at SJP fearless, confident, and full of energy, it would be Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth, and so it proved. Newcastle haven't fared well in critical moments of previous seasons, and when the record of consecutive league wins was there for the taking, we simply choked. Or more accurately, Bournemouth actively choked us. They were magnificent.

But there's no time for feeling sorry for ourselves. Actually, I suppose there technically is. It's the first time in a while that the team has seven days to dust themselves down, rest up, and prepare properly for the next game.

And in full accordance with the Premier League season's uncanny knack of throwing up enticing match-ups at the optimum moment, it's Southampton next.

Dibling
Southampton: on course to be the Premier League's worst ever side. They couldn't, could they?

Newcastle's record away at dead-and-buried sides is frighteningly bad...

Southampton's recent defeat away at Manchester United showcased just how fine margins are in football. The Saints absolutely battered the Devils, with Amorim's (quite frankly embarrassing) side frequently being cut apart by the pace of Tyler Dibling and Kamaldeen Sulemana. Only a mixture of profligate finishing, poor decision-making and goalkeeping heroics from Andre Onana kept the score down before Amad Diallo spared Man United's blushes.

While recent transfer target Dibling will miss the game with Newcastle, Sulemana must be licking his lips after watching Tino Livramento struggle with the pace of Antoine Semenyo. The Saints also put in a decent second half fightback at high-fliers Forest in a 3-2 defeat last weekend, showing Newcastle can't just show up and expect the points.

It's a mistake that United sides of the past have made. Southampton may well not reach the 11 point target that would tie them with the current worst ever Premier League team; Derby County. But for now, Derby remain the holders of that unwanted crown, and of course, Newcastle were the only side to lose to Derby that season; a 1-0 loss at Pride Park.

Newcastle also failed to beat an Aston Villa side (home and away) that finished on just 17 points back in 2016. There was also the infamous 2-1 loss at already-relegated QPR in 2015. And who can forget the 1-0 loss at Bramall Lane under Steve Bruce to a Sheffield United side that was well into January and without a league win all season?

Even Eddie Howe hasn't avoided the jinx. His side lost to struggling Luton Town in December 2023. While at the time, Luton weren't dead and buried, they would only win three further league matches all season and finished on 26 points.

Luton 1 0
Luton 1 - 0 Newcastle - a recent reminder of Newcastle's woes away at relegation candidates...

Newcastle simply have to get back to winning ways here...

With Manchester City suddenly looking imperious again, and Chelsea returning to winning ways on Monday night, Newcastle have slipped down to 6th again in the table, but Champions League football still remains in their hands. Upcoming home ties against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest will be absolutely crucial in deciding who finishes in the Top 4, while even a point at the Etihad would be a valuable result at a ground that Newcastle haven't won at in the league for well over two decades. It's a shame we couldn't play them when they were losing every week eh?

But with so many crucial fixtures coming up against the teams around us, it's vital to get back to winning ways here, and try to build up some of the goal difference that Bournemouth chipped away at so brutally.

After the capitulation against the Cherries, and the promising signs of Saints putting up a fight in recent weeks, I'd jump at the chance now for a narrow, boring victory. But a couple more goals for Alexander Isak could reignite his quest for Golden Boot.

But given our history in these 'banana-skin games' a win of any kind will do me. I'm just gutted pantomime villain Ben Brereton-Diaz has scuttled off back to Sheffield United with his tail between his legs...

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