Newcastle returned to the top four after coming from behind to defeat humble Southampton 3-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium.
Jan Bednarek’s header put Saints – who are now 11 points from safety in the Premier League – ahead, but a brace from Alexander Isak and a third from Sandro Tonali did the job for Eddie Howe’s men on the south coast.
The in-form Isaac has now scored 14 goals in his last 11 matches in all competitions.
The Newcastle team applied pressure from the beginning, keen to avenge last week’s loss to Bournemouth 4-1, but it was Southampton that took the lead against the run of play within 10 minutes when James Bree headed a cross powerfully into the net. By the undistinguished Bednarek.
Alexander Isak has scored 14 goals in his last 11 matches in all competitions
Saints’ first goal at St Mary’s since December 4 gave the home fans a lift, as well as former Toon player Adam Armstrong, who fired one shot past Martin Dubravka and another narrowly over it. But he was soon left to rue those mistakes as Newcastle quickly turned the game on its head.
The visitors were first awarded a penalty after a VAR review, with Joe Aribo adjudged to have made “sufficient contact” with Isaac as the pair jostled inside the box, although referee Sam Parrott had originally awarded a corner kick. He went to the screen to confirm the decision, and Isaac made no mistake as he slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner.
Sandro Tonali celebrates after giving Newcastle a 3-1 lead over Southampton
Isaac doubled the lead with a brilliant finish into the opposite corner of the net, thanks to a lovely assist from Jacob Murphy, and it could have been a hat-trick soon after when Joelinton had a shot bounce off the post and be beaten by Alex McCarthy.
The visitors continued to advance five minutes after the start of the second half, and the third goal was scored in a brilliant manner. Isak passed the ball to Anthony Gordon with his shoulder, and Gordon then fired a first-time shot into the path of Tonali, who arrived out of nowhere, continued the drive and fired past McCarthy.
Saints dug in and perhaps showed more determination than in previous weeks and months, but that means little without results – and they were denied the chance of a late comeback when Matthews Fernandes’ late goal was ruled out by VAR, which was ruled marginally offside. In building the attack.
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