Southampton vs Newcastle Report

Scorers: Bednarek 10’; Isak 26’ (P), 30’, Tonali 51’

Southampton’s struggles continued as Newcastle United came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory at St. Mary’s Stadium, a result that solidifies the Magpies’ position in the Premier League (PL) top four and leaves the Saints staring at the grim reality of a 19th league defeat this season.

First Half: A Promising Start Turns Sour for Saints

Despite being significant underdogs, Southampton began brightly and shocked the visitors with a 10th-minute opener. James Bree delivered a pinpoint cross, and an unmarked Jan Bednarek rose highest to power a header past Nick Pope, giving the home side hope of an upset. However, that optimism was short-lived.

Southampton’s defensive frailties were soon exposed when Joe Aribo clumsily brought down Alexander Isak in the penalty area. After a brief VAR review, referee Sam Barrott pointed to the spot, and Isak coolly dispatched the resulting penalty, restoring parity.

Newcastle capitalised on the momentum shift, with Jacob Murphy threading an exquisite through ball for Isak, who slotted into the far corner to complete the turnaround before the break. The Saints were fortunate not to be further behind, as Joelinton struck the post and had another effort ruled out for offside.

Second Half: Newcastle Take Control

Newcastle’s dominance carried over into the second half, and their third goal arrived shortly after the restart. Sandro Tonali made a perfectly timed run, latching onto a pass to burst through Southampton’s defence and slot home with precision, effectively sealing the contest.

Southampton’s defensive woes were compounded as Newcastle nearly added a fourth, but Murphy’s powerful strike ricocheted off the post and away from danger.

While the Magpies seemed to ease off as the game progressed, the Saints struggled to mount a meaningful response.

Late Drama: VAR Intervenes to Deny Southampton

Southampton appeared to have halved the deficit late on when Mateus Fernandes capitalised on a defensive miscommunication to find the net.

However, VAR ruled the goal out for offside, sparing Newcastle any late drama. From there, Eddie Howe’s side comfortably saw out the match to secure their fourth consecutive PL away victory – their best such run since 1996.

What’s Next?

• Southampton: Rooted to the bottom of the table, the Saints need a swift turnaround to avoid relegation. Next, they face a crucial match against another struggling side when they travel to Ipswich.
• Newcastle United: With momentum building, the Magpies are firmly in the hunt for Champions League football and will look to continue their impressive form when they host their next league fixture versus Fulham.

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Southampton v Newcastle, 2024/25 | Premier League