Southampton 2-2 Newcastle: Gabbiadini double denies NUFC a deserved win
It says a lot about our start to the season when we're coming away from Southampton feeling like that was two points dropped. A hard fought point nonetheless, but after being in control for most of the game, it's a real shame for the lads to come away with just a point.
As you'd expect, Southampton saw a lot of the ball in the early stages but rarely moved it quick enough into areas that could hurt us. Partly down the their apparent lack of ideas and confidence and partly due to our organised set up and disciplined two banks of four - with Joselu and Perez also working tirelessly to make it difficult for the talented Van Dijk to play out from the back.
We then started to impose ourselves on the game and nicked a goal in the form of Isaac Hayden. Great technique, leaving Fraser Forster rooted to the spot. An unlikely scorer and an unlikely first half away goal - with it being our first on the road in the first half of a Premier League match since November 2015 at Crystal Palace.
https://twitter.com/BlackWhiteBarmy/status/919584685923209217
On that day in 2015 (the last time we scored a first half goal in an away Premier League game) we ended up losing 5-1 to Pardew's Palace, but even though we threw away the lead twice here, we never looked like folding in this one.
They were level just 5 minutes into the second half. Gabbiadini shot on the half turn wasn't closed down quickly enough by Manquillo and looked like an effort Elliot should've done better with.
It was Perez who lost possession all too easily in the build up to the goal, but it was the same man who would atone for his error less than 2 minutes later. After some neat play from the restart, Perez saw his shot parried by Forster, only to react to the rebound and squeeze it in from a tight angle.
https://twitter.com/BlackWhiteBarmy/status/919596565089673223
From that point onwards I was hopeful we'd weather any Southampton storm to come, with us looking solid and steady and the back and them looking a little short on ideas offensively.
Unfortunately, we shot ourselves in the foot once again. Lejeune - who hadn't put a foot wrong all game - got it horribly wrong as he clattered into Long in a challenge he did not need to make and Gabbiadini made it 2-2 from the spot with an emphatic finish.
In the 15 minutes that remained, we looked the more likely side and Florian Lejeune almost won it at the death, seeing his goal-bound header cleared off the line.
It ended 2 goals apiece. Lessons to be learned, but even more positives to take. We were supremely organised once again and put in a performance that would've mustered a win on another day. Yet more evidence that we can compete at this level and another point in the bag.
(Via BBC Sport)
Newcastle United XI – (4-2-3-1) – Elliot – Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo – Hayden, Shelvey – Ritchie, Perez , Atsu – Joselu. (SUBS- Darlow, Gamez, Merino*, Diame, Clark, Murphy*, Gayle*)
Southampton XI (4-2-3-1) – Forster – Cedric, van Dijk, Yoshida, Bertrand – Lemina, Romeu – Tadic, Gabbiadini, Redmond - Long.
