STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Tues: Newcastle v Southampton

After their triumph at St Mary’s last week, Newcastle United are now tantalisingly close to their first Wembley final since 1999. Can they finish the job off against Nathan Jones’ side in the second-leg on Tuesday night?

It was a victory for the Magpies last week in the first fixture between these two sides, but it wasn’t a match without controversy, with Southampton having an Adam Armstrong chalked off for handball after Joelinton had fired the away side in front in the 73rd-minute.

That continued the fine season that Newcastle are having with a Champions League also looking like a possibility with the Magpies currently occupying third-spot in the Premier League with 39 points from 20 matches.

Eddie Howe welcomed a new attacking option to his squad this week by completing the signing of Anthony Gordon from Everton for a fee believed to be in the region of about £40m, but he is cup-tied for this one so will have to wait for his debut.

Newcastle United v Southampton
EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Leg
20:00 Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HDR

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
JAN 2023 EFL CUP Southampton 0-1 Newcastle
NOV 2022 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 1-4 Newcastle
MAR 2022 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 1-2 Newcastle
AUG 2021 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 2-2 Southampton
FEB 2021 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 3-2 Southampton
NOV 2020 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 2-0 Newcastle
MAR 2020 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 0-1 Newcastle
DEC 2019 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 2-1 Southampton
APR 2019 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 3-1 Southampton
OCT 2018 PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton 0-0 Newcastle

Southampton are not out of it yet, and still will hold out hope of reaching Wembley, but they will need to produce a comeback on Tuesday night when they make the trip to St James’ Park.

They were not overwhelmed by Howe’s men in the first fixture by any means, and might actually feel aggrieved that their disallowed equaliser wasn’t allowed to stand, but the prospect of turning it around in front of a packed St James’ Park might appear daunting.

The Saints don’t come into this in the best of shape either, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table, but may be buoyed by their 2-1 victory over Blackpool in the FA Cup at the weekend.

I do expect Southampton to give this a good go, but I also see them falling short in the endeavoUr of turning this around and think it will be likely that they go home empty-handed. A bet of the Toon Army winning to nil at 23/20 with starsports.bet looks appealing.

JOE CITRONE

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RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Newcastle to win to nil 2pts at 23/20 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (JAN 2023): LOSS -3.70 points

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