Newcastle United go into a difficult game at Southampton on the back of reaching the FA Cup Quarter-Final for the first time since 2006.
Southampton's season began poorly and many understandably wrote off the Saints following their 9-0 home defeat to Leicester back in October. However, if Rugby League has taught us anything, it would one simple saying, "never write off the Saints". The team by the south coast have been rewarded for persevering with Ralph Hassenhuttl and will almost certainly remain a Premier League team next season.
With the focus on Saturday, the statistics do not read well when we take the trip St. Mary's Stadium and The Dell. Our only win at Southampton since February 1972 was Graeme Souness' first game in charge of Newcastle back in September 2004. The winning goal that day was scored by then new signing Stephen Carr, in what became his final career goal.
On the subject of goals, it was in the reverse fixture of this game back in December when goals from Jonjo Shelvey and Federico Fernandez helped Newcastle come from behind to take all three points. That late winner from Fernandez was Newcastle's 100th home league goal against the Saints.
Facts and Figures
All Competitions
Newcastle wins: 38
Southampton wins: 36
Draws: 23
Premier League
Southampton wins: 15
Newcastle wins: 14
Draws: 8
Premier League at Southampton
Southampton wins: 12
Draws: 5
Newcastle wins: 1
Previous ten (all competitions)
Southampton wins: 4 (20 goals)
Draws: 3
Newcastle wins: 3 (13 goals)
League Record
Home: Played: 43, Won: 31 (71%), Drawn: 7, Lost: 5, Goals For: 100, Goals against: 41, Goal difference: +59, Pts: 100 (77%).
Away: Played: 42, Won: 4 (10%), Drawn: 13, Lost: 25, Goals For: 33, Goals against: 76, Goal difference: -43, Pts: 25 (20%).
First met in the league: 1934/35
Doubles achieved: 4
Doubles conceded: 3
Last away win: Southampton 1 (Anders Svensson 53) Newcastle United 2 (David Prutton own goal 45, Stephen Carr 57) - Premier League (19/09/2004).
Last away draw: Southampton 0 Newcastle United 0 - Premier League (27/10/2018).
Last away defeat: Southampton 3 (Shane Long 4, Graziano Pelle 38, Victor Wanyama 55) Newcastle United 1 (Andros Townsend 65) - Premier League 09/04/2016.
Southampton's Last 10 (W2, D4, L4)
04/01: Huddersfield Town (h), FA Cup 3rd Round, Won 2-0.
11/01: Leicester City (a), Premier League, Won 2-1, 28 points - 12th place.
18/01: Wolves (h), Premier League, Lost 2-3, 28 points - 13th place.
21/01: Crystal Palace (a), Premier League, Won 2-0, 31 points - 9th place.
25/01: Tottenham Hotspur (h), FA Cup 4th Round, Drew 1-1.
01/02: Liverpool (a), Premier League, Lost 0-4, 31 points - 11th place.
05/02: Tottenham Hotspur (a), FA Cup 4th Round Replay, Lost 2-3.
15/02: Burnley (h), Premier League, Lost 1-2, 31 points - 13th place.
22/02: Aston Villa (h), Premier League, Won 2-0, 34 points - 12th place.
29/02: West Ham United (a), Premier League, Lost 1-3, 34 points - 13th place.
Average placing last 20 years: 21st (1st in Championship)
Biggest win: Southampton 1 - 3 Newcastle United (18/04/1936) - (Old) Division Two
Biggest defeat: Southampton 4 - 0 Newcastle United (13/09/14) - Premier League