Newcastle United
Newcastle United will aim to secure a spot in the EFL Cup final when they face Southampton again at St James’ Park on Tuesday. The Magpies made a strong move towards the final with a 1-0 victory over Southampton last midweek, and the 1-0 lead reflects the trust placed in manager Eddie Howe and the team.
The win at St Mary’s Stadium further highlights the improvement Newcastle has made under Eddie Howe’s leadership since his appointment 14 months ago. With no FA Cup fixtures last weekend, Newcastle will likely be the fresher of the two teams for the upcoming second match on Tuesday.
Newcastle United has continued to have a strong defense. With their early exit from the FA Cup Third Round, they’ve had a full week to prepare for their next game. During this time, they signed Anthony Gordon and may make more additions to their roster as Eddie Howe aims to win silverware and secure a top-four finish in the Premier League. The loss to Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup Third Round may have been unexpected, but they have since gone undefeated in 4 games, winning 3 of them. They have achieved 8 consecutive clean sheets at home and a win on Tuesday would secure their place in the League Cup Final in February. Newcastle has won 5 of their last 6 home games in regulation time across all competitions.
Southampton
Southampton, by contrast, were in FA Cup action at the weekend, as they secured a narrow 2-1 win over English Championship strugglers Blackpool.
Nathan Jones’ side will now swiftly turn their attention to Tuesday’s second leg at St James’ as they attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit. The First Leg loss to Newcastle United at home was a disappointment for Nathan Jones and his team, who were outperformed and could have been out of the competition. Despite this, Southampton has won Cup matches against Cambridge United and Crystal Palace this season, and they are aware of Newcastle’s strong performance at St James’ Park. The First Leg defeat won’t break their spirit, but they know they have a challenge ahead.
Southampton has won 4 of their last 6 games across all competitions, with losses to Aston Villa and Newcastle United being the only exceptions. The manager believes the team’s Cup success can transfer to the Premier League. They will aim for a third consecutive away win, having previously come from behind to defeat Crystal Palace and Everton.
Head to Head
Newcastle United has already defeated Southampton twice this season, both times at St Mary’s. They had won 4 straight home games against Southampton, but last season’s game ended in a 2-2 draw.
TWV Sport Team Thoughts
Although it’s not a commanding lead from the First Leg like Manchester United’s over Nottingham Forest, many Newcastle United fans are already making plans to travel to London in February end.
The balance of this match is still uncertain due to the team’s poor finishing, and Eddie Howe believes his team has the ability to convert their opportunities. There may be more room for attacking as Southampton faces defensive challenges and may have to take more risks to try and overcome their deficit.
Although Southampton has had some positive results lately, their underlying statistics are still a cause for concern. This could be evident in this match, and Newcastle United may win and score a late goal, giving them a win on the Asian Handicap as well.
Match Result Prediction
Newcastle United to win.
Score Prediction
Newcastle United 3 – 1 Southampton
