Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Newcastle United versus Southampton in the Premier League.

There may be a lot of other big games on today, but I personally think that this game has the potential to be a cracker. Both teams have undergone significant changes, both sides are in a good run of form and, most importantly, both sides are desperate to maintain their place in England's top flight.

The Magpies last Premier League outing was a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane a fortnight ago, while Saints pulled off a marvellous 3-1 win over Manchester City at St Mary's.

We've had team news just in.

SAINTS XI: Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork, S. Davis, Rodriguez, Lallana, Lambert.

So as you can see, Mauricio Pochettino makes two changes to his side that beat the Premier League champions as skipper Adam Lallana returns after a long layoff, while left-back Luke Shaw comes back into the side.

The changes mean that Danny Fox and Jason Puncheon drop to the bench where they are joined by Jose Fonte, who returns after a seven-week injury absence.

Record signing Gaston Ramirez is also on the bench for the Saints.

So it looks as if the Saints are lining-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Jay Rodriguez and Lallana either side of Rickie Lambert up top. Schneiderlin, Cork and Steven Davis make up the midfield trio.

Apologies to those awaiting news of the home side's starting lineup, but it has just been released.

NEWCASTLE UNITED XI: Elliot; Debuchy, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon; Cabaye, Tiote; Gutierrez, Sissoko, Gouffran; Cisse.

Alan Pardew has made SEVEN changes from the side that beat Metalist Kharkiv in the Europa League on Thursday. Davide Santon and Cheick Tiote both return from injury to start.

It looks as if Pardew will use the same formation as Pochettino with a 4-3-3, pitting Cisse in the middle of a front three, flanked by Gouffran and Gutierrez.

Rob Elliot starts in goal for the Toon Army, with news that Tim Krul is expected to be missing for as much as five weeks.

And on French Day at St James' Park, Newcastle are only starting the four Frenchman. Before you ask me what French Day is, I have no idea. But I will try to find out for you.

Right, lets have a look at the substitutes benches.

NEWCASTLE BENCH: Alnwick, Yanga-Mbiwa, Perch, Anita, Marveaux, Obertan, Sh Ameobi.

Still no Hatem Ben Arfa for 'Le Toon', who recently claimed that he could have been as good as Lionel Messi.

SAINTS BENCH: K. Davis, Fonte, Ramirez, Fox, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka, Puncheon.

Emmanuel Mayuka returns to the Saints squad having been on international duty with Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.

In the reverse fixture of this clash, the Saints earned a 2-0 victory over the Toon Army at St Mary's, and you can read the report HERE.

Just 11 minutes until kickoff.

Both sides have finished their warm-ups and have headed back to the dressing room for one final team talk.

I've done some research, and apparently French Day is just a day that will consist of French-themed entertainment, with fans encouraged to sport berets and garlic and whatever else.

Even the official match programme front cover is in French. They sure are taking it seriously here.

Five to go...

Both teams are out on the field, we're nearly ready to go.

Newcastle are wearing their black and white striped shirts, black shorts and black socks and will get the game underway. Shooting from right to left.

Saints are sporting their all-red strip with pinstriped shirts and are playing from left to right.

Saints have started this match on the front foot, and are forcing Newcastle back while maintaining a lot of early possession.

What a start for the Saints, Jack Cork floats a long ball into the box from the right which is knocked down by Rickie Lambert, the ball then falls into the path of Schneiderlin, who smashes the ball on the turn into the near corner of the net. What a goal, what a start.

Just seeing the replays of the goal and it really was a great strike from the Frenchman, Newcastle will be asking themselves why Schneiderlin has time to swivel in the box.

Who would have thought that a French player scoring on French Day at St James' Park would result in Southampton taking the lead.

CHANCE! Newcastle create a chance of their own for a corner as they go in search of an instant reply. The corner is cleared away but only as far as Coloccini. But the captain's half-volley bobbles wide for a goalkick.

Newcastle now enjoying a spell of possession in the Saints half. The goal has forced them to come out from the back and try to take the game to the Saints.

No real chances for the home side as of yet apart from that Coloccini effort. Saints are defending well and not allowing the hosts a shooting opportunity.

Newcastle half-heartedly appeal for a penalty as Cisse's pass deflects upwards off Luke Shaw. I'm not really sure who Cisse was trying to convince. Nothing given.

CHANCE! Boruc is tested for the first time in the match. Cisse wins the ball on the left of the box before playing it back to Moussa Sissoko. He winds up before unleashing a low effort from the edge of the area which is heading for the bottom corner until Boruc gets a palm to it and pushes it behind for a corner.

That corner came to nothing by the way.

Also, I'm not sure how long he has had his hair like it, but Cheick Tiote is sporting a blonde mohican. I personally wouldn't have my hair like that but I dare to to tell the Ivorian that he doesn't look good.

CHANCE! Lovely build-up from Newcastle down the right with Debuchy. The balls eventually ends up on the edge of the six-yard box with Cisse, but the striker almost has too much time as he tries to turn and fire before being snuffed out by the Saints defence. Positive stuff from the Magpies.

More Newcastle appeals for a penalty as Steven Taylor hits the deck in the box after a series of corners. He is livid, but he hasn't got a decision. He literally tries an overhead kick, falls over, and then asks for a spotkick.

UPDATE It's still goalless between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.

Bit of a spell for the Saints now, they haven't been able to create anything in the way of chances yet thought.

YELLOW CARD The game's first booking goes to Saints forward Jay Rodriguez after his late challenge from behind on an escaping Jonas Gutierrez.

STAT UPDATE Newcastle have seen more of the ball with just over a quarter of the game gone. The possession count is in their favour with 61% to Southampton's 39%. However, it's the Saints who lead.

CHANCE! Debuchy tries his luck on the volley after the ball is headed away from a long free kick into the box. However, the Frenchman's effort is high, wide and not at all handsome.

Nice spell of attack for the hosts at the moment, but they can't get a shot on goal. Saints defensive shape is superb.

The hosts are level and it is Moussa Sissoko continues his stunning start to his Newcastle career. Gouffran creates havoc down the left before working his way into the box. He drills his shot at Boruc from close range, but the ball parries out to an unmarked Sissoko who simply has to tap the ball in from all of three yards out. Game on.

That strike was Sissoko's third Premier League goal since joining the Toon Army last month.

On the basis of play, the goal was probably deserved. Since they went behind, it's been largely Newcastle in the ascendancy after Saints excellent start.

The game has gone a bit quiet now after that leveller, both teams seemingly trying to figure out a new game plan now that we are back at square one in this match.

Sissoko is again causing trouble as he ghosts down the left, twisting and turning Clyne inside out before working himself into some space at the byeline. The cross is poor however, and behind for a goal kick.

YELLOW CARD Luke Shaw goes into the book and it is again Gutierrez who has won the foul. The left-back was guilty of holding back the Argentine as he tried to run onto to a loose ball, but Chris Foy blew up and dished out the caution.

Some keepy-uppies in the corner from Coloccini as he was being forced towards the byeline before clearing with an overhead kick.

What a wonder strike from Cisse. The ball falls to him on a bobble from 30 yards out, and he had no right to even shoot from there, but he thumps it on the half-volley and the ball dips over the head of Boruc and off the underside of the bar. Shades of his goal at Stamford Bridge last year. Goal of the season contender. Newcastle have turned it around.

I still cannot get over how good a goal that was. He couldn't buy a goal in the first half of the season, but my word does Cisse know how to find the back of the net at times.

We will have three minutes of added time here.

NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION Coloccini has been struggling ever since he pulled off that overhead kick. He comes off and another Frenchman, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa comes onto the field. I'm going to have fun typing that name out all afternoon.

Last chance in this half then falls to Southampton, as they have a chance to put the ball into the box from this free kick.

It comes to nothing, and the ball is cleared. That surely must be it.

Well that's it for the first half and what an enjoyable half that was. Saints deserved their early goal and started the game superbly. However, it was all Newcastle from that point onwards.

Morgan Schneiderlin slammed the ball home on the turn to put the visitors in front, before Moussa Sissoko tapped the ball in for the leveller. And then, an absolute worldie of a strike from Papiss Cisse, whose half-volley from 30 yards out cannoned off the underside of the bar to turn the game on its head.

Southampton may have started better, but on the basis of play, Newcastle deserve their half-time lead.

UPDATE It's also half time at the Etihad where it remains Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea.

The Saints are back out, I cannot imagine their half-time team talk was too warm-hearted after they let their lead slip before falling behind.

Newcastle are back out as well now.

We're back underway at St James' Park as Southampton take the kickoff.

Lambert wins a free kick in a great position for the Saints. He will surely take this one.

CHANCE! Lambert is inches away from claiming his 100th Saints goal. His effort his heading into the far corner after curling the ball around the wall, but Elliot flies to his right and palms the ball behind for a corner.

Who else? Rickie Lambert scores his 100th Southampton goal just moments after being denied from his free kick. Saints build the ball up down the right, before Lambert is played into the box and he strokes his shot low to the bottom right corner. Great take, game on once more.

Saints aren't too bad at starting new halves are they?

CHANCE! So nearly 3-2 to the Saints. It's a lovely bit of play from Clyne down the right, who works his way to edge of the box before turning his marker inside out and putting in a cross. Lambert is there to meet it with a flying header, but it goes just wide of the bottom corner. Newcastle fans growing concerned here. What a game this is.

Lambert is now the highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season, that goal was his 12th.

Are you watching Roy? Wonder if Lambert will be considered for the next Three Lions squad.

CHANCE! It's all Southampton now, and after a one-two with Rodriguez, Lallana fires a low effort just wide of the near post from the edge of the D.

SAINTS SUBSTITUTION Luke Shaw is replaced by Danny Fox for the away side. Pochettino possibly taking his yellow card into consideration there.

It's a tense atmosphere at St James' Park, Newcastle are desperate to go back in front. They have a corner now.

Taylor won the ball from that corner, but Saints manage to run out the danger and win a throw off Tiote.

The official Saints Twitter feed is reporting that Luke Shaw had taken a knock which resulted in his withdrawal from the field.

Newcastle waiting to take this corner but the referee is having words with players about some shoving in the box.

The corner was cleared away and Saints can recover.

UPDATE Yaya Toure has given Manchester City the lead over Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in the 63rd minute.

The game has gone a bit quiet, but Gaston Ramirez's imminent arrival could change that. Davis I understand will make way for the Uruguayan.

SAINTS SUBSTITUTION As I said, Steven Davis makes way, and on comes Saints' record signing Gaston Ramirez. Straight-swap in the centre of midfield by Pochettino.

Newcastle have a chance from the spot, as Debuchy's cross is blocked by the arm of Fox. Cabaye will take this.

Cabaye makes no mistake from the spot, and sends Boruc the wrong way to put the hosts back in front. What a game.

No immediate response from the Saints, who will feel really hard done by having conceded that penalty.

Tiote is currently off the field receiving treatment. Play goes on.

YELLOW CARD Maya Yoshida goes into the book for tripping the rampaging Moussa Sissoko. This free kick is in Cabaye territory.

However it is Gouffran who opts for a measured blasts, and slams it into the wall.

Newcastle are readying James Perch to come on.

NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION Yohan Cabaye receives a standing ovation as he leaves the field. James Perch comes on.

Jason Puncheon looks as if he is coming on.

It's a horrible goal for Saints to concede as Hooiveld racks up his third own goal of the season. Davide Santon ran riot down the left for Newcastle before putting a great ball into the box. Yoshida went to clear the ball, but in the end slammed the ball against Hooiveld who could only watch as the ball went into the back of the net. That should seal the win.

SAINTS SUBSTITUTION Jason Puncheon comes on for Jay Rodriguez for Southampton's final change of the match.

UPDATE It's still Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea in the other Premier League game today.

The game has died right down now, it seems as if the Saints are accepting defeat.

Saints appeal for a penalty of their own, as Ramirez dribbles into the box and goes down under a challenge. Foy isn't interested though and play goes on.

UPDATE Carlos Tevez has doubled Manchester City's lead five minutes from time to give them a 2-0 lead over Chelsea at the Etihad.

NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION Yoan Gouffran, who played such a vital role in Newcastle's equaliser, makes way for Vurnon Anita.

Ramirez has a go at goal direct from free kick in a wide position. The ball sails just over the far post.

We will have four minutes stoppage time here.

Despite their pending defeat, the Saints fans are in fine voice in the away end. They sold out their away allocation and are making themselves heard. Oh when the Saints...

The game has been settled for the past ten minutes now, both teams just running the clock down. Newcastle are going to win this match.

And there you have it, Newcastle have come out on top in a stunning game of football at St James' Park to move six points clear of the relegation zone.

Here's a reminder of what happened in this six-goal thriller. Schneiderlin gave the Saints the lead early on in the match, before Sissoko and a Cisse wonderstrike gave Newcastle a half-time lead. The away side were level swiftly into the second half through Rickie Lambert, before a Yohan Cabaye penalty and a Jos Hooiveld own goal secured the win for Newcastle on French Day.

Well that's all from me. What a great game. I hope you enjoyed it, see you soon.