Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has predicted Newcastle United will lose 1-0 to Southampton on Saturday, even though he claims the Saints’ home record has been “atrocious”.
The Magpies continue to wait for their first Premier League victory of the season, but there is a feeling that the drought could be quenched at St Mary’ Stadium this weekend.
Merson, however, doesn’t see it happening, plumping for a narrow win for the hosts: “The pressure might be off Newcastle in this one as Southampton’s home record is atrocious,” he wrote for Sky Sports.
“They could do with a win for their fans, who will be expecting one. Newcastle will be in this game but I cannot see them scoring. Southampton will just prevail in a tight, tense, nervy game with Danny Ings or Charlie Austin being the difference.”
OPINION
It’s strange that Merson doesn’t see Newcastle scoring because Southampton don’t possess a particularly inspiring defence, but that tells you everything you need to know about how ineffective Rafael Benitez’s side have been going forward this season. Both teams have struggled this year and, for all the talk about the Magpies’ struggles this campaign, the Saints have been equally uninspiring under Mark Hughes. This one has the look of a bore draw or, as Merson attests, a narrow win for either side. You’d think that their home advantage would give Southampton the edge, but their record at St Mary’s Stadium has been woeful in recent times. This is a big opportunity for Benitez’s team, but will they be able to stop Ings and Austin at the other end? If they can then they get a positive result, if not the wait for a victory will doubtless go on for another week.
