Newcastle United will take on all too familiar opposition this weekend as Southampton make the long journey north to take on the high flying Magpies. Eddie Howe has won the battle of wits three times in the previous three meetings between the two sides so far this season.
The Toon thrashed Ralph Hassenhuttl's side 4-1 at St. Mary's back in November in the Premier League in an impressive team performance. Then, it was Newcastle who would secure their place in a historic Carabao Cup Final, winning both games against their second Southampton boss of the season, with a semi-final win.
The Magpies beat Nathan Jones' side 1-0 down on the south coast in a nervy affair, before a 2-1 win at St. James' Park booked their place at Wembley. Newcastle will face their third Southampton boss of the season this weekend, when Ruben Selles brings his team to Tyneside in their fight for survival.
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The Saints are rock bottom of the table, with poor results against sides around them in recent weeks. However, they've actually fared better against the Premier League's big boys.
Selles' side beat Chelsea at Stamford Bride, picked up a point against Manchester United at Old Trafford, drew 3-3 with Tottenham Hotspur and ran Arsenal close at the Emirates. The Saints were 3-1 up heading into the 88th minute, only for Mikel Arteta's side to earn a dramatic point.
The Saints boss has impressed Jamie Carragher with his ability to switch things up in game, praising his bravery in the draw with the league leaders.
"It would be easy to say on the back of drawing three three and being in front at three one, they went to a back five and dropped deep, but I’ll be honest, for a lot of that second half I didn’t think Arsenal were going to score," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"Whether that was Arsenal running out of ideas or Southampton’s back five, but whenever Arsenal got the ball wide and put the ball in the box, there was only really Jesus in there with the three centre backs and they were just heading it away.
"I’d have to give them credit there for how they set up, and there’s something about changing at half-time when you’re winning because you leave yourself open to criticism - why did you change it?
"Maybe that [taking off Carlos Alcaraz] is something we should mention in terms of his changes at half-time, but I always think if you make that change at half-time - something tactically - the opposition have prepared for how you were playing and are talking about different things.
"We need to attack better, we need to do this better,’ and then the opposition come out in a completely different system - I think it throws you a little bit as well. I thought it was a brave - who knows what happened to Alcaraz, I thought he acquitted himself really well."
Howe himself is also wary of the threat the Saints will pose this weekend with Selles posing a different problems than his predecessors. Hoew said: "They are fighting. I watched the Arsenal game very recently, and they were very good against the league leaders, scoring three goals.
"They’ve got a real threat on transitions and set-plays. "We’ve played Southampton three times this season, so we know their qualities, they’re a good team. It’s going to be a difficult game."
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