Ayoze Perez has scored in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since April 2018
Newcastle United moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone and up into 12th place in the Premier League after an entertaining win over Southampton thanks to Ayoze Perez's first hat-trick for the Magpies.
Rafael Benitez's side have been in fine form at home recently and striker Perez's quickfire first-half double put them in charge at the break.
However, Southampton have also been playing well and they were transformed after half-time, substitute Mario Lemina coolly slotting home shortly after coming on to halve the Magpies' lead. Maya Yoshida should then have levelled the scores but somehow volleyed over from six yards.
After Ki Sung-yueng hit the post and Angus Gunn pulled off an outstanding save from Isaac Hayden, Perez finally wrapped up the points for Benitez's side when he headed home from close range with five minutes left.
This victory leaves Newcastle almost certainly safe but Southampton remain five points above the drop zone with four games left to play.
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As it happened - Newcastle United v Southampton
What happened in the Premier League on Saturday?
Battle to stay up
Date Cardiff fixtures Brighton fixtures Southampton fixtures
21 April Liverpool (H)
23 April
Tottenham (A) Watford (A)
27 April Fulham (A) Newcastle (H) Bournemouth (H)
4 May Crystal Palace (H)
West Ham (A)
5 May
Arsenal (A)
12 May Man Utd (A) Man City (H) Huddersfield (H)
Clinical Perez on fire for Newcastle
Ayoze Perez had scored four in his last seven homes games as well as the winner at Leicester last weekend and he continued his fine run of form with a superbly taken hat-trick.
His first was a perfectly placed clipped shot, kissing the inside of the far post after Isaac Hayden had won the ball back in midfield.
He followed that up two minutes later as his determination to meet Salomon Rondon's low cross ahead of Ryan Bertrand bought him and his team a second goal.
After Newcastle had toiled in the second half, he completed his hat-trick with just four minutes left, poaching a close range header after Matt Ritchie had bravely dived in to win a rushed Southampton clearance.
Perez has now got 10 Premier League goals this season, the first Newcastle player to do so since Georginio Wijnaldum in 2015-16.
Perez's burgeoning confidence crowned a strong performance from Newcastle who, after a 10th place finish last season, are chasing down the top half of the table once again.
Manager Rafael Benitez has done a remarkable job on limited resources but, with his contract running out in the summer and his expressed desire this week to manage in the Champions League again, Newcastle fans must be worried that he will leave at the end of the season.
It is surely imperative that they keep hold of him and back him significantly if this club is going to return to where it feel it belongs, challenging at the higher end of the table.
Saints fail to take their chances
Southampton had won four of their previous six games in the Premier League but it took time for them to warm up in the Easter sunshine at St James' Park.
In a disappointing first-half performance, they were barely involved as Newcastle's full-pitch pressing game squeezed the life out of Ralph Hassenhuttl's side.
Indeed, it could have been worse for the Saints, had referee Anthony Taylor not showed leniency when last-man James Ward-Prowse cynically took out Miguel Almiron.
Tactical changes at half-time however gave them a boost and substitute Mario Lemina took his opening superbly, slotting home after fellow sub Stuart Armstrong's lay-off.
Maya Yoshida ought to have levelled matters but he somehow volleyed over with the goal at his mercy midway through the second half. The Japanese defender should also have scored in injury time but his header was brilliantly turned aside by Martin Dubravka.
Maya Yoshida has not scored since December 2017 and missed some great chances for Southampton
Despite the improvement, it's a reality check for Hassenhuttl's team who are not mathematically safe and may require points from their remaining four games to ensure Premier League football next season.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Newcastle
12Dubravka
19Manquillo
5SchärSubstituted forFernandezat 69'minutes
6Lascelles
3Dummett
11Ritchie
17Pérez
4Ki Sung-yueng
14HaydenSubstituted forDiaméat 78'minutes
24AlmirónSubstituted forAtsuat 64'minutes
9Rondón
Substitutes
8Shelvey
10Diamé
13Muto
18Fernandez
22Yedlin
26Darlow
30Atsu
Southampton
28Gunn
5StephensSubstituted forLeminaat 45'minutes
3Yoshida
35Bednarek
16Ward-ProwseBooked at 23mins
14RomeuBooked at 62mins
23Højbjerg
21Bertrand
39SimsSubstituted forArmstrongat 45'minutes
22Redmond
9IngsSubstituted forLongat 76'minutes
Substitutes
7Long
10Austin
17Armstrong
18Lemina
44Forster
55Slattery
66Ramsay
Referee:
Anthony Taylor
Attendance:
52,191
Match Stats
Home TeamNewcastleAway TeamSouthampton
Possession
Home43%
Away57%
Shots
Home14
Away15
Shots on Target
Home6
Away3
Corners
Home4
Away11
Fouls
Home5
Away11
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Newcastle United 3, Southampton 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 3, Southampton 1.
Posted at 90'+4'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Ki Sung-yueng.
Posted at 90'+4'
Attempt blocked. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 90'+3'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Matt Ritchie.
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt blocked. Jan Bednarek (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross.
Posted at 90'+2'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Martin Dubravka.
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt saved. Maya Yoshida (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Paul Dummett.
Posted at 89'
Offside, Southampton. Ryan Bertrand tries a through ball, but Stuart Armstrong is caught offside.
Goal!Posted at 86'
Goal! Newcastle United 3, Southampton 1. Ayoze Pérez (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Ritchie.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 86'
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by James Ward-Prowse.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Salomón Rondón (Newcastle United) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Federico Fernández with a headed pass.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Mohamed Diamé (Newcastle United) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Ki Sung-yueng with a cross.
Posted at 85'
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Maya Yoshida.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Mario Lemina (Southampton).
Posted at 84'
Ayoze Pérez (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 84'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Paul Dummett.
Posted at 80'
Attempt blocked. Salomón Rondón (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Mario Lemina (Southampton).
Posted at 79'
Christian Atsu (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 78'
Attempt missed. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ryan Bertrand.
SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, Newcastle United. Mohamed Diamé replaces Isaac Hayden.
SubstitutionPosted at 76'
Substitution, Southampton. Shane Long replaces Danny Ings.
Posted at 75'
Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong following a fast break.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mario Lemina.
Posted at 71'
Attempt missed. Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mario Lemina.
Posted at 70'
Attempt saved. Isaac Hayden (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 69'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
SubstitutionPosted at 69'
Substitution, Newcastle United. Federico Fernández replaces Fabian Schär because of an injury.
Posted at 68'
Delay in match Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) because of an injury.
Posted at 67'
Hand ball by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton).
Posted at 66'
Attempt missed. Maya Yoshida (Southampton) left footed shot from very close range is too high. Assisted by Nathan Redmond following a corner.
Posted at 65'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Paul Dummett.
Posted at 64'
Attempt missed. Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
SubstitutionPosted at 64'
Substitution, Newcastle United. Christian Atsu replaces Miguel Almirón because of an injury.
Posted at 64'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 62'
Delay in match Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) because of an injury.
BookingPosted at 62'
Oriol Romeu (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Source: bbc.com