Newcastle vs. Southampton: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League Game

Eljero Elia netted twice as Southampton won 2-1 at Newcastle United on Saturday in a Premier League match at St. James' Park.

Elia, on loan from Werder Bremen until the end of the season, put Southampton ahead in the 14th minute with his first Premier League goal. Yoan Gouffran grabbed a fortuitous equaliser for Newcastle midway through the first half, but Elia restored the Saints' lead with a second goal in the 62nd minute.

With the win, Southampton remained in third place with 42 points from 22 matches. With 16 games left in the season, Ronald Koeman's side are showing real staying power in the race for the top four and a UEFA Champions League spot.

Up next, the Saints host Crystal Palace in an FA Cup fourth-round match next Saturday before returning to the Premier League with a home game against Swansea City on Feb. 1.

Newcastle, who are still without a full-time manager following the departure of Alan Pardew to Crystal Palace, remain firmly in mid-table with 27 points through 22 matches. The Magpies are off next weekend before playing at Hull City in the Premier League on Jan. 31.

Newcastle started the match on the front foot, with Gouffran forcing Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster into a save with a deflected shot in the ninth minute. Forster saved again three minutes later to deny Ayoze Perez and then kept out Gouffran's dipping shot from distance in the 13th minute.

Southampton had barely ventured out of their own half at that point, but in the 14th minute, the visitors went ahead.

The chance materialised when Graziano Pelle knocked down a high ball for James Ward-Prowse well outside the box. Ward-Prowse then played in Elia with a through ball on the right, and Elia finished across his body with an early strike that beat Tim Krul at the far post. 

Southampton came close again in the 25th minute, with Ward-Prowse playing the role of provider once more. This time, the midfielder curled a free-kick into the box from the right, picking out Jose Fonte. Timing his leap perfectly, Fonte should have scored but instead powered his header over the bar.

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Newcastle received a lifeline in the 29th minute, pulling level thanks to a defensive miscue by Southampton. As a loose ball rolled into the visitors' box, Forster and Florin Gardos both moved to clear. Gardos hacked the ball away, but it slammed into Gouffran and flew into the unguarded net for the equaliser.

Back on level terms, Newcastle finished off the first half much as they started it—as the more dangerous side. A second goal nearly came in the 42nd minute as Remy Cabella picked out Perez with a long ball over the top. Perez did well to hit a half-volley in the direction of the goal, but the ball sailed just wide of the top corner.

Southampton took the lead for a second time in the 62nd minute, with Elia netting again. Shane Long, who had entered the match as a substitute only two minutes earlier, won a header in the middle, knocking down the ball for Elia to run into the box. Holding off a pair of defenders, Elia sent a deflected shot past Krul for a 2-1 Southampton lead.

Newcastle missed a big chance to equalise in the 75th minute. Jack Colback curled in a corner from the right, picking out the unmarked Paul Dummett in front of goal. Dummett seemed set to score, but his header bounced harmlessly wide of the post.

Two minutes later, Southampton came close to a third goal, with Pelle directing a header onto the crossbar from a Nathaniel Clyne cross.

Newcastle piled on the pressure in the final 10 minutes with Southampton content to sit back and defend their lead. In the second minute of stoppage time, Sammy Ameobi picked out Cabella with a cross, but Cabella was unable to make solid contact with his attempted shot.

The hosts had a strong penalty appeal turned down in the third minute of stoppage time when Fonte blocked an Emmanuel Riviere shot with his outstretched hand. Referee Robert Madley allowed play to continue, however, denying Newcastle a late chance to equalise.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Tim Krul	5
Daryl Janmaat	6
Fabricio Coloccini	6
Paul Dummett	6
Massadio Haidara	6
Vurnon Anita	6
Jack Colback	6
Remy Cabella	7
Moussa Sissoko	6
Yoan Gouffran	7
Ayoze Perez	6
Emmanuel Riviere (for Anita, 68')	6
Sammy Ameobi (for Gouffran, 68')	7
Michael Williamson (for Dummett, 80')	6

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Fraser Forster	6
Nathaniel Clyne	7
Jose Fonte	7
Florin Gardos	7
Ryan Bertrand	6
Steven Davis	6
Harrison Reed	7
James Ward-Prowse	7
Dusan Tadic	6
Eljero Elia	8
Graziano Pelle	7
Jack Cork (for Ward-Prowse, 60')	6
Shane Long (for Tadic, 60')	7
Matt Targett (for Elia, 82')	6

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