Two of the Premier League’s surprise packages this season meet up at St. James Park in a
game between two sides at polar opposite lengths of the country. Mauricio Pochettino’s Southampton make the long trek up to the North-East for a fixture they haven’t won since 1997 when Matt Le Tissier belted one past Shaka Hislop to score the only goal of the game.
The last meeting between the two sides back in March ended in success for The Magpies, Southampton visiting for the first time since 2006 and despite taking an early lead were beaten 4-2 with our goals coming from Moussa Sissoko, Papiss Cisse and a Yohan Cabaye penalty with a Hooiveld own goal sealing the points for Newcastle.
As alluded to previously, the game back in March was the first since 2006 at home to The Saints, with the then Championship side being our opponents in an F.A Cup 5th’round tie shown live on BBC, Kieron Dyer playing in an advanced role sending the toon into the quarter finals with a side footed finish at the Gallowgate net. Television proved to be a lucky charm in an earlier fixture between these two back in 2000 when a Sky Super Sunday clash ended in a 5-0 rout for The Magpies which ended up getting Saints boss Dave Jones the sack; Newcastle’s goalscorers that day being Duncan Ferguson (2) , Nobby Solano and a pair of own goals from Dryden and Monk.
The Saints were hit for five back in August 1994 too as United continued to rack up the wins during their impressive streak at the start of the 94/95 season. The comprehensive victory was secured with a brace each from the unusual strike partnership of Andy Cole and Steve Watson with Rob Lee bagging one towards the end. The two sides played out a goal fest during our relegation season of 88/89 when goals from Kevin Brock and a pair from Michael O’Neill weren’t enough to beat a Southampton side whose goals came from Rod Wallace and a brace from our familiar old foe Matt Le Tissier, a strike partnership which was keeping out an 18 year old Alan Shearer at that time.
That draw was the only home game during the 1980’s we didn’t beat Southampton in, one of our victories coming in 1985 when goals from Peter Beardsley and footballing centre half Glenn Roeder ensured the points stayed on Tyneside. Finally, Supermac was on target in one of the early games of his time as Newcastle’s number 9, scoring twice against The Saints back in 1971 in a 3-1 win, Tony Green scoring the other goal.
RYAN BELL’
Steve, I think there were two; the was the St Mary’s cup tie when we won 3-0, Dyer having his one-per-season good game, early in 2004, followed by a 1-0 home win 2 seasons later (Dyer again managing to have a good game).
I remember the 3-1 win in 1971. We were bottom of the league, I think, and Tony Green was making his home league debut. Tony was a fabulous player; he dominated the game and scored with a belter from the right-hand hand corner of the box, into the Leazes End. We knew we had a pearl of a player but he only had one season with us, fully fit.
I seem to remember that BBC FA Cup tie being at St Marys.
I remember watching it at home, cos if it had been at St. James’, I would have been there.
Confused, you will be!!……