Hat-trick from Ayoze Perez sinks Southampton

Newcastle United claim their second victory in a row after defeating Southampton at St. James’ Park.

What a game it was between Newcastle United and Southampton. The Magpies managed to hold on for a 3-1 victory at St. James’ Park despite dealing with two controversial calls and two key injuries to Miguel Almiron and Fabian Schar. There was plenty of action in this affair and you can find all the details below.

First Half

The first half got off to a shaky start with a controversial no-call in the second minute of play. A clear hand-ball was witnessed in the penalty area, but Anthony Taylor chose to let play continue. Both teams spent the next few minutes testing the waters and trading possession, until Matt Ritchie had a good look at goal in the seventh minute, but his shot went wide of the target.

Two minutes later Salomon Rondon gave Miguel Almiron a great through-ball down the wing, but Almiron’s cross, which looked like an accidental shot, was tipped away by Angus Gunn at the last second.

Southampton looked dangerous in the 17th minute after a mis-hit ball from Fabian Schar enabled the Saints to counter with three against two, but Paul Dummett managed to disrupt that attack in a matter of seconds. That was the only good attack from Southampton in the opening 20 minutes of the match.

The 22nd minute witnessed another controversial call. Almiron was breaking free, but James Ward-Prowse deliberately fouled Almiron in the middle of the park, which is worthy of a red card, but he only received a yellow.

The mood quickly changed at St. James’ Park in the 27th minute, though, as Ayoze Perez took on two defenders and perfectly timed his shot to score a brilliant goal from the edge of the penalty area. That goal marked the Spaniard’s eighth of the campaign.

Three minutes later Perez  took his tally to nine as he scored again. Rondon was running down the wing and delivered a good cross for Perez at the far post and the 25-year-old got his foot at the end of it.

Southampton almost got a goal back three minutes later when a header off a corner kick forced Martin Dubravka to leap into the top corner to make a big save. Newcastle continued to press forward, though, especially in the final minutes of the half. The Magpies kept looking for Almiron as the Paraguayan got two shots off, but failed to threaten Gunn between the sticks. The Toon dominated the first 45 minutes with more shots and possession.

Second Half

Southampton wasted no time making changes in the second half. The Saints made two substitutions coming out of the tunnel as Stuart Armstrong replaced Josh Sims and Mario Lemina replaced Jack Stephens. Armstrong’s impact was felt immediately as he ran into the box in the 47th minute and earned his side a corner kick from which Maya Yoshida nearly scored.

Southampton continued to dominate the early stages of the second half as they were the only side pressing forward. The Saints fired a decent free kick at Dubravka’s goal in the 53rd minute, but the Slovakian caught the ball with ease.

Newcastle finally woke up ten minutes into the second half when Ki Sung-yueng shot the ball from distance, but it bounced off the post. Four minutes later, it was Southampton who were on the attack and substitute Mario Lemina drilled a curling effort from outside the box past Dubravka to make it 2-1.

To make matters worse for Newcastle, Almiron suffered a hamstring injury after being fouled on a counter-attack and went straight to the locker room as Christian Atsu replaced him in the 63rd minute.  Two minutes after his departure, the Saints came close to equalizing off another Yoshida header in the box, but his attempt went over the bar.

Fabian Schar made way for Federico Fernandez in the 67th minute after going down with a leg injury. Schar unfortunately joined Almiron in the locker room. Isaac Hayden almost changed the mood for the Toon Army with a brilliant volley from 30 yards out, but Gunn managed to make a bobbling save.

The Saints kept marching forward as they searched for their equalizer with plenty of urgency. Newcastle looked shaky in midfield and in the back. Christian Atsu and Paul Dummett were the only confident Magpie in the late stages of the match.

Somehow, however, Newcastle made it 3-1 in the 86th minute thanks to Perez scoring his third goal of the afternoon. A diving header from Ritchie was destined for the goal, but Perez gently headed the ball into the top corner as he was in the way of Ritchie’s initial hit.

Southampton desperately tried to find some goals in stoppage time, but their efforts failed. Newcastle managed to hold the Saints off to gain three crucial points in front of the Toon Army.