A brace from Graziano Pelle and further goals from Jack Cork and Morgan Schneiderlin have given Southampton their second win of the Premier League season courtesy of a crushing 4-0 victory over struggling Newcastle United this afternoon.
© Getty Images
The hosts made the brightest of starts and they soon took the lead after only six minutes when Ryan Bertrand broke forward to deliver a pinpoint cross for striker Pelle, who made no mistake with a classy header past a helpless Tim Krul.
Saints might have found themselves two goals to the good only a few minutes later, with Pelle in the thick of the action again, but Krul did well to get down low to deny his long-range effort.
Newcastle looked shaky at the back and a confident Southampton side soon made them pay again. This time Pelle combined with Dusan Tadic to get the ball back from a one-two and slot low past Krul to score his second.
© Getty Images
Southampton keeper Fraser Forster, formerly of Newcastle, went some way towards paying back his large transfer fee for the hosts when he pulled off two great saves to deny Moussa Sissoko and Jack Colback
Alan Pardew's misery continued after half time as his side's defence capitulated, allowing in-form midfielder Jack Cork to grab a simple goal from the centre of the box and make it 3-0 to the home side.
© Getty Images
Newcastle looked out of sorts and they were left frustrated when Colback dragged wide from a few yards out, before Yoan Gouffran was unable to convert a header, as he flicked wide of goal to sum up a disappointing afternoon for the visitors.
It was to get even worse for United, as French midfielder Schneiderlin capped off an impressive Saints display with a precise curling finish into the top corner in the final minutes of the game.
Christopher Dodd
