All 21 Of Newcastle's Premier League Opening Day Fixtures

The Magpies start 2015/16 home to Southampton, but how have they faired on previous opening days?

Newcastle Utd's Alan Shearer (centre) celebrates his opening goal with teammates Nikos Dabizas (left) and Gary Speed, during their FA Barclaycard Premiership match at Newcastle's St James' Park stadium.  *05/03/04: Nikos Dabizas (seen here whi
Gareth Copley/PA Archive

Newcastle will hope to reap all the benefit of home comforts on the opening day of the 2015/16 Premier League season when they host Southampton in Steve McClaren's first match as head coach.

This will be the 11th occasion from 22 openers that the Magpies have kicked off their campaign at St James' Park and, after being named as the long-term successor to Alan Pardew, McClaren will hope to emulate his predecessor by registering a first victory on home soil and begin the season on a positive note.  

McClaren will be the ninth boss to oversee a Newcastle side on the top-flight's opening day and the ex-England, Derby and Middlesbrough manager must improve on the results of the last seasons when Pardew's men flopped to the bottom of the Premier League table following 4-0 and 2-0 defeats to Manchester City and are likely to be relieved ay avoiding an inevitable pasting from two-time Premier League winners for a third year running.

Southampton, who enjoyed an outstanding campaign in 2014/15, will become the 17th different opposition Newcastle have faced in their first fixture. Ronald Koemen masterminded a 2-1 victory on Tyneside back in January and has already scored a victory over Newcastle this summer after winning the race to sign Spanish striker Juanmi from Malaga.

As it stands, Newcastle's current record on the opening day is seven wins, six draws and eight defeats, with the last victory coming against Tottenham at the inception of the 2012/13 season.

21. 1993-94: Tottenham Hotspur

Newcastle Utd's Alan Shearer (centre) celebrates his opening goal with teammates Nikos Dabizas (left) and Gary Speed, during their FA Barclaycard Premiership match at Newcastle's St James' Park stadium.  *05/03/04: Nikos Dabizas (seen here whi
John Giles/PA Archive

Date: 14 August 1993

Venue: St James' Park

Result: 0-1

Starting XI: Srníćek; Scott, Venison, Howey, Beresford; Bracewell, Papavisiliou (L. O'Brien), Lee, Clark; Allen (Watson), Cole.

Goals: None

Yellow Cards: Venison

Debuts: Allen, Papavisiliou

Manager: Kevin Keegan

What Happened?

It was a case of being brought back down to Earth with a thud for Newcastle as the reality of being a Premier League finally dawned following the euphoria of promotion to the top-flight as Kevin Keegan's men succumbed to a narrow defeat on the opening day. Teddy Sheringham was the executioner for Tottenham, exhibiting the level head that made him one of the division's most feared predators, cooly tucking the ball away at the Gallowgate after rounding Pavel Srníćek to score the only goal of the game.

League Position: 14th

Was It A Sign Of Things To Come?

The Magpies lost again in their first away trip of the season to Coventry but earning an admirable point against Champions Manchester United on home soil. It was't until late-August that Newcastle finally posted a victory, beating Everton 1-0 at St James' Park, and from then on Keegan's 'Entertainers' never looked back on their way to finishing third in their inaugural Premier League campaign, with PFA Young Player of the Year Andy Cole notching a club record 41 goals in all competitions, 34 of which came in the League.

Final League Position: 3rd

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