SM
Bayern vs. Augsburg: 11 hrs 6 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
NL
Premier League | Gameweek 35
Apr 20, 2019 at 5.30pm UK
 
SL

3-1

Perez (27', 31', 86')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Lemina (59')

Ralph Hasenhuttl looking forward to Newcastle United "challenge"

:Headline: Ralph Hasenhuttl looking forward to Newcastle United 'challenge': ID:356688: from db_amp
The Saints are closing in on securing their top-flight status.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has challenged his side to take a giant step towards Premier League safety by winning away at Newcastle.

The Saints head to St James' Park five points clear of Cardiff, who breathed new life into their own survival hopes with a midweek win over Brighton.

Austrian Hasenhuttl has overseen an upward progression since taking over in early December, when the team had managed only one victory from the opening 14 league games under Mark Hughes.

Four wins out of the last six have put Hasenhuttl's men within touching distance of securing another campaign among the elite.

The Saints boss, though, maintains everyone must stay focused for the long trip to the north east for Saturday's 5.30pm kick off.

"Newcastle are a very good team in a fantastic stadium with a good football atmosphere. They do it very well at the moment," Hasenhuttl said.

"They are nearly safe, but they also want to make the last steps to climb to the 40 points.

"For us it is another good challenge to show that we can compete also in away games.

"We took three points at Brighton, which was a massive game for us. Against Newcastle, we try to do it again.

"We will try to be a good balanced opponent which knows exactly what to do against a very organised team with high quality.

"It is never easy to take points there, but in the Premier League it is never easy."

Southampton's solid form – they have been beaten only by Manchester United and Liverpool since the end of February – has been built on a settled side.

Hasenhuttl, though, feels credit must go to the whole squad.

"It is very tough for me to find a first XI now, I have a lot of options, a lot guys who are training very well during the week and show up," Hasenhuttl said at a press conference broadcast by the club.

"It makes it very difficult for me to pick the first XI, but that is exactly how it should be.

"It would be worse if I have players who are happy if they sit on the bench, because that doesn't mean that we develop our game.

"At the moment is does not mean they are weak because they don't play, they don't play because the others are so good at the moment.

"They train so hard to push the others to a top performance at the weekend – that is the atmosphere which creates quality and that is what we do at the moment."

amp_article__356688 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-04-19 10:31:55:
html db last update - 2019-04-19 10:31:55 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Ralph Hasenhuttl

Click here for more stories about Newcastle United

Share this article now:
Read more about Ralph Hasenhuttl Football
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .