By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At St. Mary's Stadium
Southampton 3 (Long 4, Pelle 38, Wanyama 55)
Newcastle United 1 (Townsend 65)
Newcastle United's winless run was extended to seven games, as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at Southampton in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
Goals from Shane Long, Graziano Pelle and Victor Wanyama put the Saints firmly in control at St. Mary's Stadium, and although Andros Townsend's spectacular effort gave United a glimmer of hope, they fell to a tenth successive away loss in all competitions.
Long got the ball rolling in the fourth minute, striding through the Magpies' defence with ease before producing a low finish.
Jordy Clasie, Victor Wanyama and Dusan Tadic all passed up chances to double the lead but Pelle made no mistake with the interval approaching, firing into the bottom corner after good work from Tadic and Long.
Early in the second half, Wanyama pounced on a loose ball to drill home number three, leaving the Magpies with a mountain to climb.
It took Newcastle 58 minutes to produce a shot on target but soon after that they netted a consolation - a brilliant long-range effort from Townsend that found the top corner.
However, there was to be no comeback, and United will look to secure three vital points when Swansea City visit St. James' Park next Saturday.
The hosts made a bright start and created an opening with less than two minutes on the clock.
Ryan Bertrand's right-wing corner was met by Virgil van Dijk, completely unmarked, and although his header was nodded on by Pelle, it lacked the power to trouble Karl Darlow, who claimed easily.
But they didn't have to wait much longer to break the deadlock, with Long doing the honours on four minutes.
The Republic of Ireland forward gained possession in the middle of the park and proceeded to exchange passes with Pelle before breezing past a couple of challenges and slotting into the bottom corner.
United responded immediately and only Jose Fonte's outstanding block prevented an angled drive from Ayoze Perez reaching its intended target.
But that was a rare foray into the Saints' half, as the hosts enjoyed the majority of the opening exchanges, with midfielder Clasie inches away from bending a free-kick into the top corner from out on the touchline.
Wanyama was next to try his luck but, having met a corner at the far post, was unable to direct his header goalwards, shortly before Tadic's ambitious 25-yard effort flew narrowly wide of the upright.
And on 38 minutes Southampton doubled their advantage.
Janmaat stumbled as he attempted to cut out a through ball and it allowed Tadic to race towards the penalty area. The forward fed Long, who touched into the path of Pelle, and the big front man made no mistake with a clinical low finish.
The second half was just ten minutes old when the Saints gabbed their third of the afternoon.
A short corner was worked to Sadio Mane, whose cut-back found Fonte with the freedom of the penalty area. The Saints' skipper's first-time shot was blocked by the leg of Darlow, only for the ball to fall straight to Wanyama, who steadied himself before rifling into the back of the net with the aid of a deflection.
It took Newcastle 58 minutes to muster their first shot on target, as Perez latched on to a loose ball and played a neat one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic but saw his resulting shot saved by Fraser Forster.
And the ex-Magpies' goalkeeper had to be at his best just second later, flying to his right to beat away an Townsend effort which was heading for back of the net.
But Forster could do nothing to stop Townsend on 65 minutes, as the England international cut in off the right flank and was given time and space to make his way along the edge of the area, before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
However, the goal failed to signal the start of a comeback and, instead, Southampton went in search of number four.
Mane and substitute Romeu both threatened with time ticking away but they were unable to add to the Saints' tally, as United made the long trip back to the North-East empty handed.
Southampton (4-2-3-1): Fraser Forster; Cuco Martina, Virgil van Dijk, Jose Fonte (c), Ryan Bertrand; Victor Wanyama, Jordy Clasie (Oriol Romeu 77); Shane Long (James Ward-Prowse 60), Sadio Mane, Dusan Tadic (Jay Rodriguez 83); Graziano Pelle
Subs not used: Maarten Stekelenburg, Cedric Soares, Maya Yoshida, Charlie Austin
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Karl Darlow; Daryl Janmaat (Siem de Jong 40), Steven Taylor (Jamaal Lascelles 46), Chancel Mbemba, Vurnon Anita; Jonjo Shelvey (c), Georginio Wijnaldum; Andros Townsend, Ayoze Perez (Papiss Cisse 69), Moussa Sissoko; Aleksandar Mitrovic
Subs not used: Freddie Woodman, Paul Dummett, Cheick Tiote, Gabriel Obertan
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)
Bookings: Southampton - none; Newcastle United - none
Attendance: 31,542 (1,762 Newcastle)
