Southampton host Newcastle United in the Premier League this weekend, searching for only their second league win of the season.
The visitors will be looking to continue their push for European football next term, as they aim to get back to winning ways following a frustrating defeat last time out at home to Bournemouth.
Match preview
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Southampton's woes continued last weekend when they fell to a 3-2 defeat away at the Premier League's surprise package Nottingham Forest.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side raced into a 3-0 lead, but the Saints did not give up the fight, managing to claw two goals back in the second half.
The performance at the City Ground says a lot about Southampton of late – the spirit and determination has improved under new boss Ivan Juric, but that has not yet made a difference to their league position.
With 18 defeats already this campaign and only six points on the board, the hosts are 10 points away from safety and look like certainties to return to the Championship next season.
The Saints have conceded a whopping 50 goals in the league from their 22 games, the most goals let in by any team in the league so far.
Couple that with the fact that the Saints are the league's lowest scorers with 15 goals, and it becomes difficult to make a case for the hosts staying in the Premier League.
One positive for the new Saints boss would be that they have scored four of those goals under his guidance, and aside from their 5-0 defeat to Brentford at the beginning of January, Southampton have had relatively close encounters.
Still, if they are to pull off a miraculous survival, they will need to start winning soon, and the fixtures do not get any easier for them, with one of the most in-form teams in the country visiting this weekend.
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Last weekend's defeat against Bournemouth snapped an impressive nine-game winning run in all competitions for the Magpies, which had moved them from 12th in the league up to as high as fourth in the standings.
Despite their heavy defeat last weekend, the visitors have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks, with the Toon Army outscoring their opponents by 26 goals to three during that nine-match winning streak.
Those statistics are perhaps not surprising when Eddie Howe's side have the fifth-strongest defence in the league, on top of the seventh-best attack as well.
At the heart of the Newcastle attack is one of the most in-form strikers in the league, with Alexander Isak currently third in league's goalscoring charts, with 15 goals in 20 appearances.
With plenty of speculation surrounding Isak's long-term future at the club in the media, Newcastle would love to secure Champions League football next term, plus bring their lengthy wait for a trophy to an end to help persuade their Swedish star to stay.
The Magpies have one foot in the League Cup final courtesy of their 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of the semi-final, and they will feel confident that they can get three points this weekend to maintain their push for Champions League football for the second time in three seasons.
Howe's side are looking to build on a four-match unbeaten run away from home in all competitions, having last suffered defeat on the road against Brentford back in December.
Team News
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Southampton have several injury concerns, with Ross Stewart out with a calf injury until later this month, while Jack Stephens (calf) and Gavin Bazunu are not due back until February.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is a doubt after picking up a knock in training, with Juric pointing to his torso when questioned about the nature of his injury by the media.
The Croatian boss believes that Ramsdale could still play, but if the former Arsenal stopper cannot play, then Alex McCarthy would be the likely starter in goal for the Saints.
Elsewhere, exciting young prospect Tyler Dibling is also expected to be out for this clash with an ankle issue, while Kamaldeen Sulemana (hamstring) has also been ruled out.
Meanwhile, Martin Dubravka is expected to continue in goal for the visitors, as Nick Pope remains a doubt with a knee injury.
Other absentees for the visitors include Jamaal Lascelles (ACL), Callum Wilson (hamstring) and Harvey Barnes (muscle).
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Bree, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Manning; Downes, Fernandes, Aribo; Archer, Onuachu
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Hall, Burn, Schar, Livramento; Joelinton, Tonali, Guimaraes; Gordon, Isak, Murphy
We say: Southampton 1-4 Newcastle United
It is tough to make a case for the Saints here, as they look like they are heading for the Championship, despite a slight improvement in performances in recent weeks.
Excluding last weekend against Bournemouth, the visitors have been in brilliant form of late, and their trip to Southampton should see them win comfortably this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Tom Humphrey
