Southampton hosted Newcastle United at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday afternoon with just one place separating the two sides in the Premier League.
Mauricio Pochettino's side dominated from the first whistle, and took a deserved lead in the 45th minute when Jay Rodriguez tapped in from close range to finally beat Rob Elliot after missing a number of chances.
Rickie Lambert's emphatic finish doubled Southampton's advantage early in the second half, before Adam Lallana made it 3-0 in the 70th minute with an unstoppable strike from 25 yards out.
The victory was completed in the final minute of normal time when Rodriguez beat Elliot once again to score his second of the afternoon
Read below to find out how Southampton climbed to eight with a win at St Mary's.
Good afternoon everyone. We've got a very exciting match ahead of us today as Southampton host Newcastle United with just one place separating the two sides in the Premier League. Who will come out on top this afternoon at St Mary's? Make sure you stay here to follow all the drama.
In truth, both teams will probably already feel that this season is a success, but they'll be desperate to finish above their opponents in the table. Newcastle, sitting in eight place, are just one point ahead of the Saints.
SOUTHAMPTON: Boruc, Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw, Cork, S. Davis, Ward-Prowse, Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert
SUBSTITUTES: Gazzaniga, Schneiderlin, Ramírez, Guly, Hooiveld, Reed, Gallagher.
NEWCASTLE: Elliot, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Haïdara; Anita, Tioté, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Gouffran, Cisse
SUBSTITUTES: Alnwick, Santon, Dummett, S.Taylor, Gosling, Shola Ameobi, De Jong
Maurico Pochettino makes just one change to his Southampton. Nathaniel Clyne drops out of the squad due to injury, which means Calum Chambers returns to the team to start at right-back. There were doubts about Steven Davis and Jay Rodriguez, but both have proved their fitness to keep their respective spots in the side. Morgan Schneiderlin and Guly do Prado return to be named on the bench.
There's three changes to the Newcastle side which lost 3-0 to Everton in midweek. The injured Tim Krul is replaced by back-up goalkeeper Rob Elliot. Hatem Ben Arfa and Massadio Haidara return to the starting lineup as Luuk de Jong and Paul Dummett make way.
Alan Pardew is back today. Well, he's allowed in the ground. The Newcastle manager's stadium ban has finished, but his four-game touchline suspension begins today, meaning that he will have to watch the match from the stands. Will that make a difference to the visitors?
Make no mistake, it's a big day for Ben Arfa. The French attacking midfielder divides opinion, and at times he can be infuriating on the pitch. Pardew suggested last week that he must win back the trust of the club's supporters following an extended spell out of the side. He has the opportunity to display his obvious quality today.
It might not just be the players and managers who are in the spotlight today. Referee Andre Marriner is in charge just seven days after mistakenly sending off Kieron Gibbs in Arsenal's 6-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. There has been suggestions that he should not have been given a game so soon after making such a dreadful error. He'll be hoping it's a relatively easy day at the office.
Southampton have been the surprise package of the campaign. They've entertained us all with their style of play, and not a day seems to go by without someone praising one of the club's young English players. Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Jay Rodriguez have been the stars, but there's even more to be optimistic about if you're a Saints supporter. A place in Europe is perhaps out of reach, although the race for eighth will certainly be taken seriously today.
Newcastle begin the day one point ahead of Southampton. A victory today would give them plenty of confidence heading into their final games of the campaign. I'm sure if you offered Pardew eighth at the start of the season, he would have taken it straight away. At times it's been frustrating for the Magpies, but a strong finish would improve confidence at the club ahead of what should be, in theory, a busy summer in the transfer window.
Pardew was very kind with his words when speaking about Southampton's youngsters yesterday, suggesting that his club could follow the example set by the Saints.
"The players who come out of Southampton are quite intelligent and there might be something in that," the Newcastle boss told reporters. "We have to put more intelligence into our players and that's another side of the academy."
Remember, we've got live text coverage of all of today's Premier League games on the site today. It's another huge weekend at both ends of the table, and we'll have commentary, analysis and reaction throughout the day.
Southampton's record against today's opposition suggests that they should be pretty confident today. In their previous 20 home league games against Newcastle, the Saints have only lost on one occasion.
Goals have been the problem for Newcastle, and without Loic Remy in the team, it's an even bigger concern for Pardew. They've failed to find the back of the net in nine of their previous 13 games, while the Magpies have lost five of the last six matches they've had to play without Remy. Not a good sign, but Pardew will not be thinking about statistics now.
PREDICTION: We're just 15 minutes away from the first whistle, so it's my turn to guess what the score will be at St Mary's. I think Newcastle will find it difficult without Remy in attack, and a lot may depend on Papiss Cisse's performance. I'm going for a 3-1 win for Southampton.
The last time these two sides met was on December 14th. A 1-1 draw was the result that day as Jay Rodriguez cancelled out a Yoan Gouffran opener for Newcastle. Can they be separated today?
The players are back inside after completing their warm-ups. It could be a great game this afternoon. Two very evenly matched sides looking to recover from defeats as they target a strong finish to the season. St Mary's is filling up nicely now.
KEY PLAYERS: Ben Arfa will be very important today. At his best, he can be absolutely fantastic, but which version of the Frenchman will we see today? For Southampton, it will be no surprise to any of you to see me pick Lallana as their key man. The England international keeps the Saints ticking, and if he gets the freedom he craves, it could be a good day for the hosts.
It's a beautiful day in Southmapton. Both sets of players are out in the middle now and we're just a few moments away from the action.
Big roar from the home supporters as Southampton get the game underway.
Decent start from the Saints, with Lallana seeing plenty of the ball in the opening two minutes. It's quite busy in midfield. That's where this match will be won today.
Lallana is lively again as he links with Davis to win a corner for his side. The set-piece is taken short to Chambers, who sees his cross cleared away by the Newcastle defence.
Southampton come forward, with Lallana picking out Rodriguez, who is left frustrated as his low effort is deflected to safety by a Newcastle leg.
Newcastle work the ball nicely to find Cisse, who drifts out to the wing to find some space. The forward should do much better, but he fails to pick out any teammates with an overhit cross.
CHANCE! Southampton enjoy some success with a more direct approach as Boruc's long kick brings a mistake from Yanga-Mbiwa. Rodriguez collects the loose ball before looking for the bottom corner with a low effort. However, the forward sends his shot into the side-netting. Decent opportunity wasted.
It's not been a great couple of minutes for Yanga-Mbiwa. He links well with Tiote, but fails to keep the move flowing as a dreadful cross floats out of play.
CHANCE! Chambers is gifted too much space to whip in an inviting cross, but Rodriguez fails to add the finishing touch as he heads into the side-netting. Southampton improving with every passing minute.
SAVE! It's another chance for Southampton, and another opportunity missed by Rodriguez. Lallana is at the heart of the move as Southampton launch an attack at pace. The ball is slipped through for Rodriguez, whose drilled effort is superbly stopped by Elliot. Just a few moments later, Ward-Prowse strikes a shot wide from the edge of the box.
SAVE! Southampton are playing some brilliant football, but there left frustrated again as Elliot makes another change. Shaw advances down the left wing, before playing the perfect pass to Lambert. The forward attempts to chip the ball over the goalkeeper, but Elliot sticks a hand out to keep it goalless.
CHANCE! Southampton could have been 4-0 up by now. It's one way traffic as Lambert delivers a superb ball to Chambers, who heads the ball back across the box. Lallana should be able to nod home from just six yards, but he glances his effort wide of the target. Newcastle living very dangerously.
Williamson is forced to concede a corner when the impressive Chambers whips a ball into the box. Ward-Prowse's delivery finds Lovren, but the defender can only head the ball over the crossbar. It's another decent opening for Southampton.
Newcastle aren't helping themselves at St Mary's. Gouffran's awful pass gifts the ball to Rodriguez, who quickly finds Lambert. A miscued effort forces another save from Elliot as the visitors continue to struggle.
Southampton have already had nine shots in the first quarter of this match. It's been a one-sided contest, but Pochettino will be amazed that his side haven't been able to break the deadlock.
Rodriguez can't believe his luck when he is penalised for a foul after robbing the ball from Williamson, who had hesitated in possession. It looks like he's been slightly unlucky there.
CHANCE! Rodriguez is in the action again as he beats Williamson to a Shaw cross from the left. The forward attempts to find the bottom corner with the outside of his boot, but his effort drifts just wide of the far post. How has Rodriguez not scored in the first half?
Two more efforts from Southampton as Cork sends a deflected strike wide shortly before Lambert chips a shot just over the crossbar. Newcastle just can't keep the ball. The Saints are applying all the pressure, and something must change soon for the visitors.
Frustrating times for Newcastle as Tiote is forced to turn back to keep possession just moments after bursting into space with an excellent run in midfield. No threat being posed by the visitors. I asked which Ben Arfa we would see today. To be honest, we've barely seen him at all.
Long ball after long ball from the visitors. Nothing sticking for the visitors, though. Southampton showing their opponents how it's done with some great passing, but they'll be desperate to be ahead before the break.
The home crowd jeer when Andre Marriner ignores their protests after Tiote collides with Lallana. Newcastle work the ball to Yanga-Mbiwa, who continues his disappointing first half with an awful cross which finishes in the stands.
Newcastle defending much better now, but there's still no doubt about who is in charge. Southampton are being forced to remain patient in possession after missing a flurry of chances earlier in the game.
Great run from Shaw as he breezes past a couple of defenders on the left before drilling in a dangerous cross. Williamson gets a vital touch on the ball to make it easier for Elliot to collect.
SAVE! Another chance missed by Southampton. Guess who? Lambert delivers a great cross, and yes it's Rodriguez, who heads the ball straight at Elliot.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 NEWCASTLE (RODRIGUEZ)
Finally! Lambert breaks free of the visiting defence after beating the offside trap. He has the option to shoot or pass, but chooses the latter. Who else could it be? It's been a frustrating afternoon for Rodriguez, but the relief on his face says it all as he converts from close range to give his side the lead.
HALF TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 NEWCASTLE
Andre Marriner brings the first half to an end, and it's Southampton who are deservedly ahead. They've dominated from the first whistle, but it looked like they would be left frustrated after missing a number of great chances. Rodriguez, who was guilty of wasting some excellent opportunities, made sure they secured the lead they deserve with an easy finish from close range. Can Newcastle respond?
It's been a woeful first half for Newcastle. As good as Southampton have been, there must be serious questions about how the visiting side have responded in the opening 45 minutes. A worrying statistic is that it's been 75 games since Newcastle overturned a half-time deficit to win a Premier League game.
The match facts paint a pretty clear picture at the interval. Southampton have had 15 shots, hitting the target on five occasions, while Newcastle have failed to register a shot. It's simply not been good enough, but they're still in the game at 1-0.
Pardew will surely make a change at the break. He's seen nothing from Ben Arfa, Cisse and Gouffran, while his midfield have struggled to compete against their much sharper opponents.
SUBSTITUTIONS: I said Pardew had to do something at the break, and he's taken the opportunity to make two changes. Yanga Mbiwa and Ben Arfa both make way for Luuk de Jong and Davide Santon. It's no surprise to see those two taken off. Newcastle will get the game back underway.
Southampton settle very quickly at the start of the second half, with the ball being knocked around with apparent ease by the hosts.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 2-0 NEWCASTLE (LAMBERT)
Southampton's bright start to the second half has produced a second goal. Haidara's poor clearance reaches Lallana on the left, and he cuts inside to whip in an inviting cross. Lambert loses his marker to earn himself some space before finishing emphatically from close range. That might be game over at St Mary's.
Pochettino's side have the opportunity to pile the misery on Newcastle now. The visitors have offered very little. Southampton's creative players will look to continue to attack from here. Newcastle need a goal.
Anita's corner finds its way to De Jong, whose superb control is followed by a miscued volley which sends the ball straight into the air. Southampton regain possession before advancing forward once again.
Sissoko has barely had a touch of the ball, but he does well beat Shaw on the right before delivering a good cross. Not one Newcastle player takes a gamble as the ball drifts away to safety.
The camera flashes to Pardew in the stands. He does not look happy, and you can't blame him. Can Newcastle produce anything positive in the final third of this match?
Great defending from Chambers. Newcastle string a few passes together to advance down the left with Gouffran, but the young right-back steps in to make an excellent tackle.
Big stroke of luck for Newcastle. They probably should be down to 10 men. Cisse lunges in on Chambers, who is caught on the ankle by the striker's studs. It's not a great tackle, but I'm not sure if Andre Marriner saw the incident clearly enough. No card for Cisse. He's very, very lucky.
Chambers looks like he will continue, despite that heavy challenge from Cisse. The game is stopped again when Haidara goes down complaining of a problem in his back.
Newcastle are urged on by the travelling supporters after winning a corner, but Southampton deal with the threat easily before going forward with the ball in their possession.
De Jong has improved things slightly for Newcastle, but he's not getting much support. The Dutch forward drops into some space to pick out Anita, whose powerful effort is blocked.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 3-0 NEWCASTLE (LALLANA)
What a strike! Lallana collects the ball before cutting in on his left and firing in an unstoppable shot from 25 yards to beat Elliot, who had no chance of keeping that one away from the top corner. It's a stunner from the Saints skipper.
SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino decides to make a change with his side in cruise control as he replaces David with Schneiderlin.
Newcastle simply don't know how to handle Lallana, who seems to find space with apparent ease as he wins a free kick under pressure from Sissoko. It's going to be a long, miserable trip home for the visiting supporters.
WOODWORK! Elliot makes a great stop to deny Ward-Prowse, but he's left thanking the frame of the goal just seconds later as Rodriguez heads against the post.
YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the game goes to Haidara, who can have no complaints after bringing down Ward-Prowse.
SUBSTITUTION: It gets even worse for Newcastle as Sissoko is forced off the field with a hamstring injury. The midfielder is in a lot of pain. Dummett comes on as the visitors are forced to make their final change.
Lambert thinks he will have an easy opportunity to score his second of the afternoon when a cross is delivered to the back post, but Santon does enough to keep the ball away from the striker.
Southampton's players and supporters are looking relaxed as the hosts ease towards the full time whistle. They could be a lot further ahead, but Pochettino won't mind too much.
SUBSTITUTION: Lambert is given a standing ovation on his way off the pitch to make way for Gaston Ramirez.
SAVE! Schneiderlin makes a great tackle in midfield, which sees the ball break loose for Rodriguez, who sprints forward before testing Elliot with a powerful effort from 25 yards. I've lost count of the amount of times Rodriguez has gone close today.
De Jong's free kick hits the wall, but Newcastle manage to keep the move alive. The ball is eventually delivered to Gouffran, who is denied a consolation goal from six yards out when Shaw makes a great block. Superb defending from the youngster.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 4-0 NEWCASTLE (RODRIGUEZ)
Rodriguez couldn't go home with just one goal to his name. The forward collects the ball in space, before shifting the ball onto his right foot and striking an effort through Elliot's legs. Southampton fully deserve to be 4-0 up.
The fourth official confirms that there will be four minutes added on
SUBSTITUTION: It's not a surprise anymore, but Lallana has been absolutely superb today. The captain is given a great reception as he is replaced by Sam Gallagher.
Elliot is forced off his line to head the ball to safety when Gallagher threatens to collect a long ball. Good goalkeeping.
Very little urgency being shown from either side as they wait for the final whistle to arrive. Newcastle just want this to be over. It's been a terrible day for Pardew's side.
FULL TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 4-0 NEWCASTLE
You've heard the saying. If it would have been a boxing match, this would have been over a long, long time ago. Southampton produced some stunning football to earn the victory. Newcastle can have no complaints. They've barely put up a fight. Saints climb above Newcastle to claim eighth spot in the Premier League. What a performance. Thanks for joining me. I hope you've enjoyed the coverage. Make sure you stick around for analysis and reaction.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
