Eddie Howe says Newcastle United must not take relegation-threatened Southampton lightly on Sunday.
The Saints sit bottom of the table and lost the South Coast derby 1-0 to AFC Bournemouth on Thursday night but Howe has pointed to last week's 3-3 draw against Arsenal when Ruben Selles' side almost pulled off one of the shocks of the season. With many fans dreaming of another resounding victory, Howe knows that caution is the watchword.
Howe said: "They are fighting. I watched the Arsenal game very recently, and they were very good against the league leaders, scoring three goals.
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"They’ve got a real threat on transitions and set-plays. "We’ve played Southampton three times this season, so we know their qualities, they’re a good team. It’s going to be a difficult game."
Newcastle are so close to Champions League qualification they can almost reach out and touch it. But they are not their yet and for all their efforts still require a good quota of wins from their last six matches.
With Spurs not mathematically out of the picture, Aston Villa still probing and Liverpool with a presentable stretch of home matches, nothing can be taken for granted.
For Howe, if his side keep on winning they will be able to celebrate a first Champions League appearance since 2003. Howe said: "Winning is everything. "Of course, it’s what you’re paid to do, but it’s what you plan to do.
"I’m so proud of everyone connected with the club this year, with what we’ve given – players, staff, board, everyone, we feel really united at the moment.
"Things are going well, although we’re not taking that for granted because we know how quickly it can change. "But we’re enjoying the feeling we’re having and long may that continue."
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