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Carver: 'Saints Are Serious Challengers'
Written by Newcastle Utd
John Carver is full of praise for high-flying Southampton ahead of Saturday's fixture
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
John Carver has tipped Southampton to sustain their challenge for a Champions League spot, admitting Saturday's opponents are "as good as anybody" at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Saints arrive at St. James' Park sitting third in the top flight table following a stunning first half of the campaign in which they have silenced the doubters time and time again.
Forced to rebuild their squad - and find a new manager - last summer following a host of high-profile departures, the south coast club achieved both with impressive results.
And United's caretaker manager Carver sees no reason as to why Southampton cannot be fighting it out with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United until the bitter end.
"They deserve to be where they are," he said, ahead of Saturday's meeting.
"To be third in the Premier League, after what they lost in the summer, is quite incredible.
"Their recruitment has been fantastic and they have replaced players with better players, in my opinion.
"They have also appointed a top head coach who has them well-organised and working extremely hard for each other. But they also have talent and goalscorers in the team, so it is no surprise to me.
"As long as they stay clear of injuries, I think they can (sustain their challenge).
"They have a good group and a good squad of 16 or 17 players. If they keep everybody fit they are as good as anybody to be in the top four."
When the sides met earlier in the season, Saints ran out 4-0 winners on an afternoon which was arguably United's poorest display of the current campaign.
And in a bid to pick up their first three-point haul of 2015, Carver will ensure his players have not forgotten that painful day on the south coast.
"We could have lost that by six or seven," recalled the stand-in boss.
"In all my years of being involved at this Club, that is probably the worst performance I've ever seen. I was embarrassed to be part of the coaching staff that day.
"We had a huge following down there and the fans let us know that, and deservedly so.
"We were so disappointing, we didn't even create chances and didn't force Fraser (Forster) into any saves. Hopefully we will turn that around this weekend.
"I will be reminding the players in our team meeting how poor we were down there, and we will be looking to put the record straight."
Tickets for Saturday's Barclays Premier League home fixture against Southampton are still on sale in the Matchday Box Office at St. James' Park until kick-off.