Eddie Howe has urged his Newcastle United players to respond quickly from their hammering against Bournemouth ahead of facing lowly Southampton on Saturday.

Howe watched on as Justin Kluivert’s hat-trick and Milos Kerkez’s late strike compounded the Magpies to a 4-1 defeat, their first in nine matches across all competitions.

Newcastle lost by three or more goals at home for just the second time in the Premier League under Howe, last doing so in December 2021 against Manchester City (0-4).

The weekend’s results saw the Magpies drop to sixth in the standings, two points adrift of the top four, and Howe is aiming to return to winning ways at St. Mary's to keep their Champions League ambitions alive.

"We were not at our best, there is no doubt about it. Technically and physically, we were not the team we've been in recent weeks, and they played very, very well and made it very difficult for us, so full credit to them," Howe conceded.

"I don't want to make excuses, but I just felt there was fatigue in our performance today. We didn't start well and never played with the intensity we normally do, and we were off in almost every phase.

"I'll put it down to physicality right now, but with a thorough analysis, we'll see if I feel the same way.

"We made a big tactical switch at half-time and throughout to try and invigorate us, but it never happened. We have to respond and quickly.

"The big thing for us is we have a week in between, so hopefully, a chance to recharge our batteries and then attack the game."

Despite another promising display under Ivan Juric, Southampton’s woes in the Premier League continued as they were beaten 3-2 by Nottingham Forest last time out.

Saints were three down at the City Ground at half-time, but rallied back through Jan Bednarek and Paul Onuachu’s goals. However, they fell short once again.

The result follows another encouraging display at Manchester United, a game they also went on to lose, but Southampton captain Bednarek believes it is only a matter of time before his team grab a victory at one of the top stadiums in the division.

"Completely opposite halves. The first one was really bad, and the second was really good. We were really close to getting something from a tough place to play," Bednarek said.

"We need to learn really quickly that United in the last 15 minutes and the first 45 here was not acceptable.

"We missed intensity. The way we played was too slow. We have to learn and hopefully, we get more intense."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southampton – Paul Onuachu

Despite only coming on in the 58th minute against Forest last weekend, Onuachu made an impact, netting his first Premier League goal at the 23rd attempt.

He ended the contest at the City Ground having had more shots (three) than any of his team-mates, while only Adam Armstrong (five) had more touches in Forest’s box than Onuachu (four).

Newcastle – Alexander Isak

Isak has scored in each of his last four Premier League away games, with no Newcastle player ever doing so in five in a row.

Furthermore, he’s scored 13 goals in just 12 Premier League appearances against promoted sides, netting a hat-trick against Ipswich Town last time out.

MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN

Newcastle have lost just one of their last 23 Premier League games against promoted sides (W14 D8), going down 1-0 at Luton Town in December 2023. Since that defeat at Kenilworth Road, the Magpies have scored at least four goals in five of their six games against promoted clubs, winning the last five in a row.

They have also won each of their last three Premier League away games, last winning four in a row on the road between September and October 1996.

Having won just one of their first 18 Premier League away games against Southampton (D5 L12), the Magpies have now won three of their last four visits to St. Mary’s (L1).

Southampton, meanwhile, have won just one of their last 13 Premier League games against Newcastle (D3 L9), losing each of the last four in a row.

Saints have also won just one of their last 35 Premier League games (D7 L27). When converting to three points for a win all time, their six points is the joint-second lowest after 22 top-flight games (level with Sheffield United in 1975-76), with only Bolton Wanderers in 1902-03 ever having fewer at this stage (three).

Southampton players have made 17 errors leading to a goal in the Premier League this season – only Tottenham (21 in 2013-14) have made more in a single campaign on record (since 2007-08).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Southampton – 16.5%

Draw – 20.2%

Newcastle – 63.3%