There’s under an hour to go until Newcastle face Southampton at St Mary’s in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final and the team news is in.
Eddie Howe has once again stuck with the same starting eleven from the previous game.
HOWAY NEWCASTLE! ⚫️⚪️#SOUNEW pic.twitter.com/c44disAAk7
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 24, 2023
There were many of us who thought that it might be time to give Callum Wilson a rest and give Alexander Isak a chance to lead the line, but Howe has shown faith in his misfiring striker. At the end of the day, he can’t score goals and end his drought if he’s not on the pitch.
YOU REDS ❤️
Your #SaintsFC side to take on #NUFC in the #CarabaoCup: pic.twitter.com/qzJUyb9Ark
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 24, 2023
Nathan Jones has also fielded his strongest side for the first leg. The one man Newcastle really need to be wary of is James Ward-Prowse, we absolutely can not give away free-kicks in a dangerous area as we’ve seen time and time again what he can do when given an opportunity like that.
Southampton feel like a different animal in the Carabao Cup having seen off Manchester City despite the gulf in the league table. We know that the league means nothing in cup competitions (look at our last two FA Cup fixtures for example) so to go into this game thinking we’re better than them based on league position is courting danger. Eddie Howe and his players will be very aware of that, and will also be aware of the different fixture that will be in store for them one week from today at St James’ Park.
If we go out and play for a draw today with a view to taking them apart at St James’ Park, I’ll not be against it, but I’d definitely prefer to go into next week’s second leg with a cushion.