3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Southampton 1 Newcastle 3

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The Mag

·27 de enero de 2025

3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Southampton 1 Newcastle 3

Saturday afternoon’s match ended Southampton 1 Newcastle 3.

Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

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An interesting afternoon at St Mary’s as Eddie Howe’s side recovered from an early Saints goal, to then be 3-1 up in the 51st minute

Plenty to talk about after this one…

On this occasion it is David Punton:

POSITIVES

Back to winning ways

The Bournemouth game was a disaster, so it was vital to bounce back in order to keep up the push for a European place.

We managed to bag all three points at St Mary’s with aplomb, and no disrespect to Southampton, but we were expected to win comfortably against a side with just one PL win all season.

It was a banana skin. The early goal for the home side was a setback but our class told in the end.

Ten wins from eleven games makes for very good reading. When you look at the demolition job Bournemouth did on Forest it was some small comfort that we just ran into a side in red hot form.

We are firmly in the race for some form of continental football in 25/26, albeit there’s a long old way to go this season.

Cult hero status

Some brilliant players have led the line for Newcastle down the years.

Alex Isak is right up there with the best of them. He saved us in this game.

You can pretty much hang your hat on his ability to get goals. He’s world class. A cult hero.

This game put Isak in rarefied air. His strikes making him the club’s second top scorer in the Premier League era behind Alan Shearer. I’d give Isak the number nine shirt this summer if I was Eddie Howe.

He has taken his PL tally to 17 for the season – just two back from Mo Salah – and he’s put himself firmly in the race for the golden boot.

It’s also no 22 direct goal involvements in the Premier League for Isak, with five assists on top of the 17 PL goals. It’s little wonder the southern media are doing their best to unsettle him (see negatives below).

Isak was a huge part of this win and is key part of our success this season. I pray he can stay fit.

Special mention for Jacob Murphy. That through ball for the second goal was delicious.

Miggy’s farewell

Eddie Howe downplayed the gestures but it really did feel like a goodbye from Miguel Almiron on Saturday.

It was a nice moment for a player who has served the club well. He always plays the game with a smile on his face. He’s a great lad, and he’s more than done his bit.

I don’t care what his detractors on social media are saying, Miggy’s been a brilliant player for the club, arriving in the Ashley era just before Rafa decided he’d had enough of being messed about.

His red hot form at the end of 2022 was the bedrock of finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years. Then there was that goal against PSG. A moment etched in local folklore.

If he does indeed ends up back in the MLS then I wish Miggy all the best.

NEGATIVES

Sluggish moments

It’s hard to be critical after an away win but there were some sluggish moments in this game.

The season is taking it’s toll and exposing the depth of the squad.

We seem to be running out of steam in the final minutes.

Defensive lapses

Bednarek being given a free header wasn’t ideal and Southampton carved a few other opportunities as well.

It’s something to work as better sides could punish us.

Blushes were spared in this game. On another day we could have been looking at a defeat to a side with just six points.

That would have been typical NUFC, had that unfolded.

Sky Sports

There was something of a spat over comments that were made by the Sky Sports pitchside reporter Mark McAdam.

McAdam managing to work in references to Isak leaving, even when doing his piece to camera.

This led to a bit of a row on social media. McAdam was on live TV, so I have some sympathy.

However, it seems the media are determined to push this narrative of Isak needing to sign for Arsenal. It’s frustrating and here’s to hope the player signs a new extended contract with us.

Clearly, our project needs to match his ambitions though.

Southampton 1 Newcastle 3 – Saturday 25 January 2025 3pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Isak 26 pen, 30 Tonali 51

Southampton:

Bednarek 10

Possession was Newcastle 47% (48%) Southampton53% (52%)

Total shots were Newcastle 17 (7) Southampton 12 (4)

Shots on target were Newcastle 9 (5) Southampton 5 (2)

Corners were Newcastle 8 (5) Southampton 3 (0)