Southampton v Newcastle: Hosts to turn screw on Pardew with win

Newcastle rarely obtain any change from the long trip down to Southampton in the Premier League and the early signs this season suggest they’ll be returning to the north east devoid of souvenirs once again.

Ladbrokes don’t fancy Newcastle much either, labelling the visitors 7/2 outsiders, the draw 13/5 and a Southampton triumph a 4/5 chance.

Here’s how we’d spend our hard-earned on the contest:

Southampton to win @ 4/5

The south coast side won this fixture 4-0 in March, as Newcastle’s 2013/14 season unravelled like toilet roll being nuzzled down the stairs by an Andrex puppy.

Fast forward seven months and some of the personnel may have changed, but ever since their breezy start at Anfield the evidence suggests Ronald Koeman’s new-look Saints are going to carry a similar threat to that of last term.

West Ham were duly dispatched 3-1 at Upton Park before the international break, while Alan Pardew’s strugglers were held at home by Crystal Palace, collecting only their fifth point from the last 33 available.

Traditionally St Mary’s is a points graveyard for the Magpies too. The Geordies have collected the spoils only once and lost 10 times in 14 Premier League trips.

Southampton to win to nil @ 9/5

The heart of Newcastle’s problems lie in their inability to score goals, especially on the road, and as yet none of their new signings have contributed to the cause. Meanwhile, Siem De Jong is now injured.

Stretching back to last season the Magpies have failed to trouble the scorers in seven of their last nine away league games.

Draw/Southampton @ 7/2

So far this season Saints have taken a little while to click into top gear, with only one of their six goals arriving before the break, and that sole effort – Morgan Schneiderlin’s first at West Ham – arrived on the cusp of half-time.

Koeman’s men have gone into the break level in their last three games, including their Capital One Cup trip to Millwall and gone onto win the last two.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £100 in free bets.