Newcastle held on to beat Southampton despite playing the last 18 minutes with nine men, as Miguel Almiron scored twice for the hosts at a rain-soaked St James’ Park.
The result sees Newcastle remain in 16th but may ease some of the pressure on manager Steve Bruce, whose side are now 11 points clear of the bottom three.
However, it was a dismal conclusion to the week for Southampton, who were unable to bounce back from their 9-0 defeat at Manchester United despite Jeff Hendrick’s dismissal early in the second half and an injury to Fabian Schar – when the hosts had already made their three substitutions.
On-loan Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock had given Newcastle a perfect start, steering in Allan Saint-Maximin’s cut-back to open the scoring on his debut before Almiron doubled their lead with a shot that deflected off Saints defender Jan Bednarek.
The Paraguay winger then restored Newcastle’s two-goal advantage after Takumi Minamino lashed in a brilliant debut goal for the Saints.
James Ward-Prowse’s wonderful free-kick had given Saints hope of rescuing a point even before Hendrick was sent off for two bookings, but a resilient Newcastle held on.
Southampton have now lost five consecutive top-flight games for the first time since September 1998.
Suffering Saints
After Tuesday’s bruising defeat, Southampton’s trip to the north-east was always going to be a test of character.
However, they made the worst possible start and, at times, Bednarek, who had his red card at Old Trafford rescinded, must have wished his suspension had stood.
The Poland defender had already been turned inside out once by Saint-Maximin before the French winger accelerated past him to lay on the opener for Willock.
For the second, Bednarek’s positioning in front of Alex McCarthy left the goalkeeper with no chance to react when Almiron’s powerful left-footed drive diverted off him into the net.
Southampton, who had a Che Adams tap-in correctly ruled out for offside, did show flashes of brilliance.
Both Minamino’s goal – he ghosted past Isaac Hayden before producing a memorable finish – and Ward-Prowse’s exquisite free-kick, which found the top left corner, were fit to grace any game.
Although his team controlled possession, manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s expression at the final whistle was almost as gloomy as the conditions.
More to follow.
Player of the match
AlmirónMiguel Almirón
Newcastle United
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
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Squad number28Player nameWillock
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Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
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Squad number13Player nameWilson
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Squad number3Player nameDummett
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Squad number26Player nameDarlow
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Squad number14Player nameHayden
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Squad number15Player nameLewis
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
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Squad number17Player nameKrafth
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Squad number19Player nameManquillo
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Squad number8Player nameShelvey
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Squad number9Player nameJoelinton
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Squad number16Player nameHendrick
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 26DarlowBooked at 90mins
- 19ManquilloSubstituted forKrafthat 24′minutesBooked at 45mins
- 14Hayden
- 5SchärSubstituted forat 79′minutes
- 15Lewis
- 16HendrickBooked at 50mins
- 8Shelvey
- 28Willock
- 24Almirón
- 10Saint-MaximinSubstituted forDummettat 67′minutes
- 13WilsonSubstituted forJoelintonat 36′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Dubravka
- 3Dummett
- 7Carroll
- 9Joelinton
- 11Ritchie
- 12Gayle
- 17Krafth
- 21Fraser
- 57Anderson
Southampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McCarthy
- 5StephensSubstituted forN’Lunduluat 81′minutes
- 35BednarekBooked at 73mins
- 4Vestergaard
- 3Bertrand
- 11Redmond
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 6Romeu
- 19Minamino
- 10Adams
- 9Ings
Substitutes
- 12Djenepo
- 22Salisu
- 23Tella
- 31Ramsay
- 40N’Lundulu
- 44Forster
- 52Finnigan
- 65Watts
- 72Chauke
Live Text
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Match ends, Newcastle United 3, Southampton 2.
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Second Half ends, Newcastle United 3, Southampton 2.
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Karl Darlow (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Nathan Redmond (Southampton).
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Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
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Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Joseph Willock.
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Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Jamal Lewis.
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Foul by Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton).
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Karl Darlow (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Paul Dummett.
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Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Paul Dummett.
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Attempt missed. Che Adams (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Substitution, Southampton. Daniel N’Lundulu replaces Jack Stephens.
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Attempt missed. Jan Bednarek (Southampton) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Emil Krafth.
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Offside, Southampton. Ryan Bertrand tries a through ball, but Takumi Minamino is caught offside.
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Fabian Schär went off injured after Newcastle United had used all subs.
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Attempt blocked. Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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VAR Decision: No card change Jan Bednarek (Southampton).