Russell Martin admitted Southampton might must adapt within the Premier League, however they won’t change their philosophy forward of their opener towards Newcastle United.
The Saints obtained again to the top-flight on the first time of asking, beating Leeds United within the Championship play-off remaining to earn promotion to the Premier League.
They’ve ready effectively forward of the brand new marketing campaign, solely shedding one in all their pre-season friendlies, and Martin is assured Southampton have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the opposite groups.
“There’s a priority with any type for any group within the Premier League,” he mentioned in his press convention. “We’re going to be outlined by being ok. Me, the gamers, we’ll be referred to as naive.
“We’ve performed one thing right here we actually imagine in. We’ll must adapt and alter a bit bit by way of having much less possession. We received’t change our ideas.
“We’ll focus on being the group we wish to be.”
#TheKickOff pic.twitter.com/jAogejtAWj
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 15, 2024
In the meantime, Newcastle didn’t fairly hit the heights of their top-four end in 2022-23 final season, however a constructive end to the marketing campaign gave purpose for optimism.
They misplaced simply two of their final 10 matches in 2023-24, and solely suffered one defeat throughout pre-season.
Eddie Howe is assured they’ve learnt from these struggles and have left them behind as they put together for his or her opening match.
“Final season was actually troublesome. Total, although, I assumed it was a season of actual progress,” Howe informed Stadium Astro.
“And I don’t say that flippantly, I do assume we improved loads. I’m speaking general. I’m trying on the membership, I’m trying on the group. I feel we’ve got improved and moved on.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Newcastle United – Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak has scored 13 Premier League targets to date in 2024, together with 11 in his final 12 appearances. It’s greater than twice as many as every other Newcastle participant has scored to date this calendar 12 months (Bruno Guimaraes is subsequent highest with six).
Southampton – Adam Lallana
If Adam Lallana performs, it might be his first Premier League sport for Southampton in 10 years and 98 days, the fifth-longest hole between appearances for a similar aspect within the competitors’s historical past. In the meantime, his final objective for the Saints got here towards this opponent, in a 4-0 win in March 2014.
Getting set for Saturday.
Watch in full on YouTube
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 15, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE UNITED WIN
Newcastle have received seven of their final 9 Premier League matches towards Southampton, together with the final three in a row. The Magpies have by no means received 4 league video games in a row towards the Saints earlier than.
They’ve additionally misplaced simply one in all their final 20 Premier League video games towards promoted sides (received 11, drawn eight), with that defeat coming away towards Luton City final season (0-1).
And Howe has been notably influential within the dugout, as Newcastle have received their Premier League opener in each campaigns underneath him. The final Magpies supervisor to win three in a row was Joe Harvey between 1972-73 and 1974-75.
St. James’ Park has not been a very completely happy looking floor for Southampton, who’ve managed only one win of their final 18 Premier League visits (drawn 4, misplaced 13), profitable 2-1 underneath Ronald Koeman in January 2015.
Southampton are with out a win of their final 13 Premier League video games (drawn 4, misplaced 9), since beating Leicester Metropolis 1-0 in March 2023. It’s their longest run with out a win within the top-flight since a run of 17 between November 1988 and March 1989.
In the meantime, amongst groups to have performed in 10 or extra Premier League seasons, Southampton have the bottom win ratio of their opening matches of the season, profitable simply two of 24 video games (8%). Their 12 defeats to open a season are additionally the joint-second most alongside Newcastle and behind solely West Ham United (15 defeats).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Newcastle United – 70%
Draw – 16.9%
Southampton – 13.1%
