Perhaps a new month will help Southampton start winning again in the Premier League. It's been well over a month since Newcastle United experienced victory in a top-flight match.
On Saturday at St Mary's, Southampton will try to keep the visiting Magpies from doing the season double over them.
Only two points separate 13th-place Southampton (10-4-14) and Newcastle (8-8-12), who sit 14th in the table. Though neither team is really in danger of relegation, they also don't appear to have what it takes to finish in the top-half of the Premier League, at least in terms of putting together a consistent run of form.
So, it's a matter finishing as strong as possible for each club.
Southampton went 6-1-3 over December and January to pull themselves out of the relegation scrap, but lost three of four within the league during February. Their lone victory of the month came 2-0 over Aston Villa at home on Feb. 22, but the Saints followed with a 3-1 loss at desperate West Ham United last weekend.
"We've got to rebuild and be positive," Michael Obafemi, who scored his second goal of the season in the 31st minute against the Hammers, told Southampton's official website. "I was happy to get the goal, but in the end it doesn't mean much. We lost the game … We look forward to every game we play. Especially when it's at home. (Losing to West Ham) makes the three points even more important next week."
The Saints were unable to record even a single point during their 2-1 loss at Newcastle on Dec. 8, and have managed just two points during an 0-2-3 Premier League rut against the Magpies. Danny Ings (15 goals) put Southampton up 1-0 on 52 minutes at Newcastle in the reverse fixture, but Jonjo Shelvey (five goals) equalised in the 68th and Federico Fernandez put the hosts up for good in the 87th minute.
Newcastle are just 2-4-6 within the league since that victory over the Saints, and 0-3-2 since stunning Chelsea, 1-0 at home on Jan. 18. Following last weekend's scoreless home draw with Burnley, the Magpies have now gone four consecutive Premier League games without a goal, dating to Florian Lejeune's two goals one-minute apart in stoppage time of a 2-2 draw with Everton on Jan. 21.
Whilst Newcastle broke out for a 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion this week to advance in the FA Cup, they have never gone five consecutive Premier League matches without goal. Perhaps their success in the prestigious FA Cup will finally carry over to the top-flight.
"Winning games always breeds confidence - every football match you go out and win is good for the club, good for the players, and the fans will be pleased with scored three (against West Brom)," keeper Karl Darlow told Newcastle's official website.
"Hopefully, we can build a bit of momentum off it, and it's a little bit of a pick-me-up after a few disappointing results. So, fingers crossed for Saturday."
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