Newcastle vs Southampton Predictions

• Newcastle won 12 of their 19 home league games last season
• Southampton won only two of their final seven away matches in the Championship last term
• Both teams have scored in six of the last seven meetings between the pair

Home comforts should inspire Magpies

Newcastle rarely fail to deliver at their beloved St James’ Park, where they lost only two of their 19 outings in 2022-23 and then won 12 of their 19 assignments last season.

Newly-promoted Southampton are their first visitors on the opening weekend of the new season and the Magpies should make the most of their familiar surroundings.

Newcastle, with no European football to contend with unlike last season, will be looking to stamp their presence on the Champions League qualification places whereas survival will be the priority for Southampton

Eddie Howe’s side lost only three of their 19 home league matches last season and those defeats came against Liverpool, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, highlighting the task Southampton are faced with.

Therefore, Newcastle are understandably a short price but they were far from disciplined defensively and, while that was not helped by a reoccurring injury situation, that offers hope for Southampton getting on the scoresheet.

The Magpies conceded 22 goals in 19 home league matches, keeping only two clean sheets in their final ten outings at St James’ Park, while both teams scored in each of their final five top-flight fixtures.

Luton, Sheffield United, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were among those to score on Tyneside and the Saints, still riding the crest of a wave after last season’s promotion, should be confident that they can do the same.

Streaky Saints have plenty to prove

While Saints have every chance of getting on the scoresheet, it is hard to see them avoiding defeat, especially given they won only two of their final seven away matches in the Championship last season.

Southampton finished fourth in the Championship last season but, while they scored 87 goals in 46 games, they conceded 63 which was the third-worst defence in the top half.

That is largely due to the way in which Russell Martin’s side play, favouring a possession-based approach at whatever cost, something which may be exploited regularly by better opposition in the Premier League.

Southampton face a tough season and they are sure to endure some heavy defeats along the way, especially when you consider that last season they endured 5-0 losses away at Sunderland and Leicester and conceded three in reverses at Ipswich and Bristol City.

Coming up against the likes of Swedish sensation Alexander Isak, who was the third highest scorer in the Premier League last season with 21 goals, and Anthony Gordon could be a recipe for disaster.

Newcastle can get the ball rolling with a home victory but there may be a consolation strike in it for Southampton, so correct-score punters should side with a 3-1 victory.

Build better bets with our free betting tips, predictions and accumulators, every day.