Newcastle United have designated Sunday as "France Day" at St James' Park where the stands will be festooned with Tricolores. Fans are encouraged to wear fancy dress and strategically placed face-painting stations promise to reinforce the theme as the extremely Francophone club pays homage to Alan Pardew's imports. Controversially sacked as Southampton's manager in 2010, Pardew would revel in beating his old club. Mauricio Pochettino, though, will trust that Newcastle's players will still be tired after their long flight back from eastern Ukraine in the early hours of Friday morning after winning a Europa League tie at Metalist Kharkiv.
Subs from Harper, Perch, Haïdara, Anita, Simpson, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Obertan, Shola Ameobi, Yanga-Mbiwa, Ben Arfa, Williamson, Ferguson
Southampton won 2-0 in the corresponding fixture last year. That was the first league encounter between these clubs since January 2005 and a first win for the Saints over Newcastle in any competition since 2002.
Newcastle's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Tottenham last time out ended a run of back-to-back victories, against Chelsea and Aston Villa.
This time last season the Magpies' home record was the fifth best in the league with just two defeats in 12; howeverthis term they lie 13th best overall (lost six of 13).
Six of Newcastle's seven league wins this season have come on home soil, while they have scored an identical number of goals (17) in both their home and away Premier League matches.
Papiss Cisse has scored five goals in 23 league starts this season, compared to 13 league goals in as many starts last term.
Southampton's 3-1 win against reigning champions Manchester City last time out was their second league win in nine games, of which six were draws.
Saints have lost just once on the road in their last five games and have taken 19 of their 27 points this season against bottom-half opposition.
Only Wigan and QPR have a worse first-half record in the Premier League than Southampton, who have trailed at the interval more than any other team (12).
Leading scorer Rickie Lambert will be looking for his 100th Southampton goal against Newcastle having scored in five of Saints' last six away league games.
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