“Nobody knows it and it makes it difficult to speak about it but it is clear that everybody, not only me, was disappointed that this game didn’t happen.”
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl did not hide his frustration earlier this season when asked about the Premier League's decision to postpone their home clash with Newcastle United. The Magpies were due to travel down to the south coast for their first fixture of 2022 on January 2, but it was called off on New Year's Eve following an application from the visitors.
It was a decision which saw Newcastle subjected to heavy criticism, with many suggesting it was a cynical ploy to allow Eddie Howe to fulfil the fixture with the expected January additions in his side. Hasenhuttl's call for any signings to be banned from the rearranged fixture was branded 'nonsense' by Jamie Carragher, but was backed by fellow Premier League manager David Moyes and pundit Paul Merson.
