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There may be more glamorous offerings in the Premier League this weekend but no fixture parallels the importance of Southampton vs Newcastle. Despite only being a few months into the new Premier League season, this game already feels like a crucial relegation clash - the game that could decide who joins expected whipping boys Huddersfield and Cardiff City in the bottom three come the close of 2018/19.

So in an intriguing change from recent norms, the attentions of the Fixture in Focus Podcast have been firmly set on matters at the less flattering end of the Premier League table this week.

And in another variation to recent weeks, resident host James Jones has begun his three-week hiatus, leaving Christy Malyan in charge and making room for a new addition to the Fixture in Focus roster - TT editor-in-chief Jonnie Gorrie, a lifelong Newcastle fan raised in Southampton.

Christy, Jonnie and podcast regular Chris McMullan are joined by injury news guru Ben Dinnery, who has some very interesting views on the direction his beloved Newcastle have taken under Rafa Benitez, one of underwhelming results and even more underwhelming football.

This episode is not to be missed, and nor is this game - albeit probably not for the right reasons. Enjoy the episode and of course, if you enjoy what we do and don't want to miss any future episodes, make sure you subscribe on your preferred podcast platform by clicking here.

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