Southampton vs Newcastle United. Premier League.
St. Mary's StadiumAttendance31,542.
Saturday 9 April 2016 20:10, UK
Newcastle's survival hopes suffered a huge setback as they lost 3-1 to Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday.
A fine solo strike from Shane Long put the Saints ahead after four minutes, and they doubled the lead before the break through Graziano Pelle's fourth goal in as many games.
Victor Wanyama added a third with a controlled finish 10 minutes after half-time, before Andros Townsend offered the visitors a glimmer of hope with a stunning goal from 25 yards.
Already short of options in defence, Steven Taylor and Daryl Janmaat limped off for Newcastle, who remain six points from safety after their ninth consecutive Premier League defeat away from home.
Long returned to Ronald Koeman's side as one of three changes from their 1-0 loss to Leicester, and the Southampton striker put his side in front early on.
After collecting a give-and-go with Pelle, Long drifted past Taylor and picked out the bottom corner of Karl Darlow's net for his eighth league goal of the season.
It was one-way traffic throughout the first half as Newcastle saw their only attempt, after a neat turn by Ayoze Perez, blocked by Jose Fonte.
It looked only a matter of time before Southampton extended their lead as Jordy Clasie's free-kick almost caught out Darlow while Pelle headed over when well placed six yards out.
But the hosts made their pressure count seven minutes before half-time as Pelle swept home Long's poor first touch for his fourth goal in as many games.
A slip from Janmaat allowed Dusan Tadic to pick out Long, and when his touch came back to Pelle, the striker blasted first-time past Darlow.
The home side added their third shortly after the restart as Wanyama fired home after more poor defending. Newcastle switched off from a Saints corner allowing Sadio Mane to find Fonte unmarked, and when his shot was saved, Wanyama followed up.
The visitors had improved and threatened to make things interesting when Townsend picked out Fraser Forster's top corner with 25 minutes remaining. Southampton allowed the former Spurs winger to cut onto his left foot, and Townsend's fierce drive left the Saints goalkeeper no chance.
But it was Koeman's side who looked more likely to find the net again as Mane went close for the hosts, who saw the game out to move onto 50 points for the season ahead of a trip to Everton next Saturday.
The biggest cheer of the final stages was reserved for Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez, who replaced Tadic to make his first appearance since October.
The defeat for Newcastle leaves them six points adrift of 17th place Norwich City with games against Swansea and Man City at St James' Park to come next.
Player ratings
Southampton: Forster (6), Bertrand (7), Martina (7), Fonte (7), Van Dijk (7), Clasie (6), Wanyama (7), Tadic (7), Long (8), Mane (8), Pelle (8)
Subs used: Rodriguez (6), Ward-Prowse (6), Romeu (6)
Newcastle: Darlow (6), Anita (6), Mbemba (5), Taylor (4), Janmaat (4), Townsend (7), Shelvey (5), Wijnaldum (4), Sissoko (5), Perez (5), Mitrovic (5)
Subs used: Lascelles (7), De Jong (6), Cisse (6)
Man of the match: Shane Long
