Newcastle United kicked off their Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over newly promoted Southampton at St James’ Park. A first-half goal from Joelinton secured all three points for the Magpies, despite playing much of the match with 10 men following a red card for Fabian Schar.
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Match Overview
The match began with Southampton making a bright start in their return to the Premier League. Within the first 10 minutes, Jack Stephens thought he had given the Saints an early lead, only for his goal to be disallowed for offside after a VAR review. Southampton’s promising start took another twist when Newcastle’s Fabian Schar was sent off in the 28th minute after an altercation with Ben Brereton Diaz. The decision was confirmed after a lengthy VAR check, leaving Newcastle with a numerical disadvantage for the remainder of the match.
Despite being a man down, Newcastle showed resilience. Just before half-time, a mistake by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy proved costly. McCarthy’s errant pass was intercepted by Alexander Isak, who quickly fed the ball to Joelinton. The Brazilian made no mistake, slotting the ball into the net to give Newcastle the lead in the 45th minute.
Second Half Drama
The second half saw Southampton dominate possession, with the Saints desperately searching for an equalizer. They came close on several occasions, with Adam Armstrong seeing his effort cleared off the line by Lewis Hall shortly after the restart. Armstrong, a former Newcastle player, also forced a fine save from Nick Pope with a long-range effort.
Southampton continued to press, with substitute Carlos Alcaraz heading straight at Pope and Armstrong having another shot deflected narrowly wide. Despite their dominance in possession and the numerous chances created, Southampton was unable to break down a resolute Newcastle defense.
Newcastle’s Defensive Masterclass
Newcastle, under the guidance of Eddie Howe, showcased their defensive solidity. After Schar’s red card, Howe made a tactical reshuffle, bringing on Emil Krafth to bolster the backline. The Magpies defended with grit and determination, clearing their lines effectively and limiting Southampton to long-range efforts.
The home side’s discipline and organization were key to their victory, as they managed to shut down Southampton’s attacking threats and secure a clean sheet. This result marks a third consecutive opening day win for Howe and his team, setting a positive tone for their Premier League campaign.
Southampton’s Return to the Top Flight
Southampton’s return to the Premier League after a year in the Championship ended in disappointment, but there were positives to take from their performance. Russell Martin’s side dominated possession, controlling 77.8% of the ball and registering 19 shots compared to Newcastle’s 3. Despite their inability to score, the Saints showed they can compete at this level.
Martin will be encouraged by his team’s ability to create chances and maintain pressure on their opponents, but will need to address their finishing and defensive lapses to ensure they convert possession into points in future matches.
Match Statistics
- Possession: Newcastle 22.2% | Southampton 77.8%
- Shots on Target: Newcastle 1 | Southampton 4
- Total Shots: Newcastle 3 | Southampton 19
- Passes: Newcastle 181 | Southampton 649
- Clearances: Newcastle 34 | Southampton 14
- Corners: Newcastle 3 | Southampton 12
- Fouls Conceded: Newcastle 15 | Southampton 16
- Yellow Cards: Newcastle 2 | Southampton 4
- Red Cards: Newcastle 1 | Southampton 0
English Premier League Points Table
Check the below mentioned for English Premier League points table from the below mentioned table.
| English Premier League Points Table 2024-2025 | GP | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Arsenal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Aston Villa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Manchester United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Newcastle United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Nottingham Forest | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brentford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leicester City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manchester City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West Ham United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Fulham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Southampton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Ipswich Town | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Everton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Looking Ahead
Newcastle will be pleased to have started their season with a win, especially under challenging circumstances. Their defensive resilience and ability to capitalize on mistakes will serve them well as they look to improve on their previous campaign.
Southampton, while disappointed with the result, showed they have the quality to compete in the Premier League. They will need to build on this performance and focus on converting their possession into goals as they aim to secure their first points of the season.
