Southampton vs Newcastle Predictions
- Southampton have lost four of their last five home games against Premier League opposition.
- Newcastle have won four of their last seven away game against top-flight teams.
- Newcastle have kept nine consecutive cleans sheets against Premier League opponents.
Miserly Magpies can shut down Saints in first leg
Newcastle’s greater attacking options give them the edge over Southampton in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg and they could win without conceding at St Mary’s.Eddie Howe can freshen up his strikeforce for the clash by calling up Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin and that might be enough to overcome an inconsistent home side.
Nathan Jones’ rollercoaster experience as a Premier League manager took a downward turn on Saturday when his side lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa. They registered as many shots on target as Villa, but the lack of a cutting edge cost them again as they finished with no goals.
Southampton too reliant on Ward-Prowse wonder goals
Three of Saints’ last six goals have been scored by James Ward-Prowse, who is doing his best, but none of the forwards look like reliable contributors. Two of the other six were low-percentage efforts from the edge of the box that stunned Manchester City and the other was a blunder from Crystal Palace’s keeper who gift-wrapped one for Adam Armstrong.There may be nothing for them on Tuesday either as they face a miserly Magpies rearguard that has kept nine straight clean sheets against top-flight opponents. Newcastle have beaten Southampton on their last two trips to St Mary’s, conceding on both occasions, but this backline is much better and Nick Pope is a solid last line of protection.
The Magpies can blank the hosts and take a one or two-goal advantage back to Tyneside. The 1-0 prediction is marginally preferred because this is the first leg and Saints are unlikely to overcommit in chasing an equaliser if and when they go behind.