BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson has delivered his prediction for Newcastle United’s crunch Premier League clash at Southampton on Saturday.
The former Liverpool great, writing in his regular column for BBC Sport, has perhaps surprised some in plumping for a 2-0 away victory for Rafael Benitez’s side.
“Southampton really needed their point at Bournemouth last time out because it ended a run of three straight defeats,” he said. “But because Newcastle have sunk so low in recent weeks, I see this game as their turn to win.
“The Magpies had plenty of chances against Brighton last weekend, with 27 shots at goal, but they could not take any of them. If they keep doing that, the goals will come – and so will their first win of the season.”
OPINION
This is a bold prediction from Lawrenson. Newcastle have yet to win a Premier League game this season and simply couldn’t break Brighton down last week in their 1-0 loss. The Seagulls were extremely well organised and the Magpies didn’t have the quality to fashion openings in the Brighton defence. The Saints will attempt to mimic that on Sunday, although they will be under more pressure to attack Newcastle because they are at home. Mark Hughes’s side have a woeful recent record at St Mary’s Stadium, though, so it’s certainly possible that Benitez’s side can go to the South Coast and come away with all three points. Southampton have been struggling too this season, so it will be a contest between two team desperate to win. This does have the look of a game in which Newcastle can pick up their first win of the season, and Lawrenson certainly believes it’s possible, so we’ll have to wait and see if they can get the job done.