Newcastle 3-1 Southampton: Mags march on as Wilson inspires SJP comeback
A stunning second half display from Eddie Howe's Mags, who fought back from a goal down to see off Southampton in style at St James' Park.
It threatened to be one of those afternoons as the hosts went into the break 1-0 up, but a 45-minute brace from Callum Wilson and Theo Walcott own goal saw us run out comfortable winners in the end.
Not for the first time in recent weeks, we went through the gears just when it mattered and blew away the Saints, who couldn't cope with our pace and intensity. In the end, it could've been four or five, as Wilson had one disallowed and also hit the bar.
The win - our EIGTH in our last nine games - sends us 13 clear of Brighton, 11 beyond Spurs and Aston Villa, nine ahead of Liverpool and two clear of Man Utd, who beat Villa narrowly today. It feels like there's no stopping us now, as we've overcome three different tests in the space of seven days with flying colours, scoring 13 in the process. Whether it's responding from the cup final defeat, coming through a hostile atmosphere at Goodison or reacting to being 1-0 down today, Eddie's Mags always have the character, quality and desire see us over the line.
It was a frustrating first half. Flat in the stands and flat on the pitch, as if we’d all turned up expecting to blow away the bottom side without breaking sweat. There was an early warning within the first minute, as Walker-Peters got a shot away in the box to force Pope into a save just 30 seconds in.
We did have plenty joy down our left, but Gordon didn’t always make use of the space given by Lyanco. Our £45m man had his moments - he fired one effort into the side netting, hit the outside of the post after Isak sent him clear and almost set up the Swede with a few cut-backs into the box - but he faded after a lively start. Bruno flashed a volley wide and Joelinton also went close with a header. However, were sloppy in possession and open on the counter, with cheap giveaways and wayward passes allowing the Saints to run at a Newcastle defence that looked far more exposed in Longstaff’s absence.
Then, five minutes before the break, Southampton struck. Sulemana burst past Botman and his cross was bundled home by Stuart Armstrong. 1-0 down at half-time and an improved second 45 needed if we were to make it eight wins from our last nine.
As ever, Eddie had the answer. He took off Gordon - a tough call, yet one that proved to be the right one - and sent on Wilson, who made an immediate impact. Shortly after he and Botman failed to convert Trippier's wicked delivery, our No 9 latched onto Isak's ball across the box and stabbed a looping effort past McCarthy.
Wilson thought he'd made it two 20 minutes later, only for VAR replays to show Miguel Almiron in an offside position in the build up. A mini-setback with 15 minutes to play, although we made up for that moments later, as Botman's flick-on from Trippier's corner was bundled in by Theo Walcott. 2-1 Newcastle and it soon became three, as Wilson pounced on Maitland-Niles' error, went round McCarthy and slotted into an empty net. His second of the game, his seventh in his last eight matches and 15 for the season, making him the first Newcastle United striker since Demba Ba to reach that tally in the league.
A superb win and well-deserved win. Southampton caused us problems on the counter in the first half, but they had no answer as soon as Howe moved Isak to the left and brought Wilson on. Both were unplayable and will be pushing to start together when Arsenal come to Tyneside in seven days time!
STARTING XI: Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Willock, Bruno, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
SUBS: Dubravka, Dummett, Wilson, Ritchie, Lewis, Targett, Manquillo, Almiron, Anderson.
