Saints Marching
Fansided

Southampton: Statistical look at Saints’ worrying loss to Newcastle

By Marc Walker

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: Southampton player James Ward-Prowse (l) hits his free kick over the Newcastle wall for the second Saints goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park on February 06, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: Southampton player James Ward-Prowse (l) hits his free kick over the Newcastle wall for the second Saints goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park on February 06, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Newcastle United’s English-born Northern Irish defender Jamal Lewis (C) challenges Southampton’s English striker Danny Ings (Photo by STU FORSTER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Newcastle United’s English-born Northern Irish defender Jamal Lewis (C) challenges Southampton’s English striker Danny Ings (Photo by STU FORSTER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Not enough when it mattered

Newcastle were eventually reduced to nine men on Saturday after having Jeff Hendrick sent off and seeing Fabian Schar taking off injured.

Saints played against 10 men for around 42 minutes and the final18 minutes against nine, yet were unable to salvage a point from the game.

Those last 18 minutes saw Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side enjoy 86% of possession. However, they had just three shots in that time, with two of those coming from centre-backs Jannik Vestergaard and Jan Bednarek.

The players and staff themselves will know that this is nowhere near good enough if they are to become a team competing nearer the top of the Premier League table.

Attacking patterns – against a full opposition team and less – need to be worked on and refined to create enough quality chances throughout a match. The addition of Takumi Minamino will hopefully add some guile in the final third.