Newcastle United showcased their resilience and attacking prowess with a commanding 3-1 win over Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium on January 25, 2025. This victory not only brought the Magpies back within the Premier League's top four but also left Southampton languishing at the bottom of the table.
The match began on a bright note for Southampton, who took the lead early. Jan Bednarek opened the scoring with a powerful header from James Bree’s cross, sending the home crowd buzzing with anticipation. The Saints looked to capitalize on their momentum, seeking only their second league win of the season.
Newcastle, took the blow on the chin and responded with determination. Their equalizer came shortly after, when Alexander Isak was brought down by Joe Aribo inside the penalty area. Although referee Sam Barrott initially waved away Newcastle's appeals, VAR intervened and prompted him to review the incident. After watching the replays, Barrott reversed his decision, awarding the penalty to Newcastle. Isak confidently stepped up and sent Southampton's goalkeeper Alex McCarthy the wrong way, leveling the score at 1-1 and marking his fifth consecutive away league game with at least one goal. This was no small feat, making him the first Newcastle player to achieve this milestone.
Just minutes later, Isak struck again. A well-placed pass from Jacob Murphy found the Swede, who nonchalantly curled the ball past McCarthy from just inside the box, giving Newcastle the lead at 2-1.
Newcastle's performance continued to impress after the break, as Sandro Tonali netted the third goal within minutes of the resumption. A flick on from Anthony Gordon assisted Tonali, who finished decisively, effectively sealing the Magpies' dominance in the match.
Despite being down, Southampton did not throw in the towel. Taylor Harwood-Bellis almost equalized early in the second half, but his effort was denied by Martin Dubravka’s sharp reflexes. Another glimmer of hope emerged late when Mateus Fernandes thought he had scored, but his goal was ruled out for offside after VAR review.
Newcastle's victory was especially notable as they continued to build on their impressive away form, having matched last season's six away wins already. Manager Eddie Howe expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly highlighting Isak’s remarkable form this season. Isak’s brace against Southampton brought his tally to 17 league goals, placing him just behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who leads with 19 goals.
The defeat leaves Southampton with just six points from 22 matches, raising severe questions about their survival chances, especially as they remain ten points from safety. Former Southampton player Theo Walcott remarked, "Southampton now have to settle for the fact they are going down," reflecting the grim sense of reality surrounding the club.
With the win, Newcastle solidifies its place aiming for European competition, not just survival, as they had before. Eddie Howe’s side seems more equipped this season, their defensive capabilities and potent offensive options making them genuine contenders for Champions League qualification.
With both teams moving forward, Newcastle aims to maintain this winning momentum, trying to climb higher up the league table, whereas Southampton will need urgent tactical adjustments and potentially wins against fellow relegation contenders if they are to salvage their season.