Ten men Newcastle were forced to dig in to secure a first home win of 2021 as Steve Bruce’s side edged out a 3-2 victory over Southampton.
Three first half goals looked to have done enough for Bruce, but Jeff Hendrick’s red card ensured a backs to the wall effort late on.
The Magpies have struggled at St. James in recent months but the flew out of the traps in this one as Joe Willock tapped home Allan Saint-Maximin’s cross for a debut goal.
But the Saints were not shocked into submission by Newcastle’s fast start as Danny Ings tested Karl Darlow before Miguel Almiron slammed home a second.
However, the game continued to see saw again before the break as Takumi Minamino smashed home his own debut goal before Almiron pounced on Ryan Bertrand’s error to restore Newcastle’s two goal lead.
But as the rain began to bucket down in the second half, Southampton refused to buckle, as skipper James Ward-Prowse arrowed home a trademark free kick.
Hendrick’s pull on Minamino saw Newcastle reduced to ten for the bulk of the second period as the Saints laid siege to the Magpies goal.
But it simply wasn’t to be late on, as the normally dead eye Ings clattered one of the post before some much needed Geordie grit saw Newcastle over the line.
Full Time at St. James’ Park it’s Newcastle 3 Southampton 2
