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Southampton V Newcastle United The Preview

St James Park has not been the happiest hunting ground for Saints in recent years and now they have to go there to play a Newcastle side looking to virtually guarantee a top four finish with a win this afternoon.

Bizarrely after Saturday's results, Saints still aren't dead and buried in the relegation dog fight, but anything less than a win this afternoon will surely just about end any lingering hopes of a miracle escape.

Ruben Selles has turned from hero to villain in the space of a month or so with some strange selections and substitutions, I truly feel sorry for him, he did not have the experience for the job and it was folly to appoint him without bringing in an assistant with both the knowledge and the experience of the Premier League that the Spaniard did not have.

The saddest thing is that it is hard to see him still being at the club next season and that is a shame, he has been thrown to the lions, when given time as a coach and assistant he could have become a good manager in future years for the club.

As it is though he is now a rabbit caught in the headlights, not sure what to do next as he tries to unpick the mess that was caused by Nathan Jones disastrous period in charge.

It is virtually impossible to predict just what the side will be, first question if James Ward Prowse, the official line was that he was ill going into the game against Bournemouth and tried to play but lost his energy levels.

Such is what has gone on this season, I think it is true to say that a large proportion of the fan base do not believe that, they think that Ward Prowse was a no show for the second half after a dressing room row, there is absolutely no actual evidence of this, but it is easy to believe and that is the problem of this season.

Too many selections this last few weeks have seen players come out from the cold and into the team only to be left out again just as quickly as Selles searches for a winning formula.

Any Saints supporter will tell you what that winning formula is, a proven striker and a leader at the back, but it is too late now, we didn't do it back in the summer nor in January, not the fault of Selles but he will be the man with his name on a Southampton relegation.

It is no use frothing at the mouth now, this season is nearly done, we have to start looking at the next one now, mistakes have been made both by Sports Republic and by those charged with the day to day running of the club, this has been a massive blow but it does not have to be terminal as Burnley have proved.

It is hard to see anything other than a defeat this afternoon, but you never know, football sometimes turns up results when you least expect them.

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