Southampton players are nursing their wounds this morning after a tough loss to Newcastle United in their Premier League season opener.
Not many expected Russell Martin’s team to stand a chance as they headed to St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
However, the Saints surprised some with their ability to play through Newcastle’s press, sticking to the strategies that got them to the Premier League.
Southampton caught a break when Newcastle was reduced to ten men after Fabian Schar’s altercation with Ben Brereton Diaz led to his dismissal in the 28th minute.
Unfortunately, Southampton suffered a setback just before half-time when goalkeeper Alex McCarthy made a costly error playing out from the back, passing directly to Alexander Isak, who set up Joelinton for the game’s only goal.
Despite the loss, Martin can draw positives from his team’s performance against Newcastle as he prepares to secure their first three points of the season at home against Nottingham Forest next weekend.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis looks ahead to Nottingham Forest after Newcastle defeat
Taylor Harwood-Bellis, experiencing his first season in Premier League football, played a vital role in Burnley’s Championship title win in the 2022/23 campaign while on loan from Manchester City. He then achieved back-to-back promotions, helping Southampton secure their place in the Premier League in May.
Southampton paid £20 million to sign Harwood-Bellis permanently this summer, and he made his long-awaited Premier League debut on Saturday, a year later than expected. Despite being on the losing side, Harwood-Bellis delivered a composed performance and shared a reassuring message with fans on Instagram, stating, “Deserved more yesterday, on to Saturday back at home,” alongside a photo from the match.
Yukinari Sugawara reacts to Harwood-Bellis Instagram post
Another player who made his Premier League debut recently was Yukinari Sugawara. Southampton signed the Japan international from AZ Alkmaar for £5.88 million, and he already shows promise as a potential fan favorite with his dynamic runs down the right flank from full-back.
During the match against Newcastle, with the opposition down to ten men, manager Russell Martin decided to sacrifice a defender, and Sugawara was substituted despite an impressive first-half performance. He was replaced by winger Samuel Edozie as Southampton pushed for an equalizer, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.
Sugawara expressed his admiration for teammate Harwood-Bellis by responding to his Instagram post with flame emojis. Both players will aim to strengthen their partnership on the right side of Southampton’s defense in their upcoming match against Nottingham Forest, where three points could be vital.
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