Shane Long equaliser denies Steve McClaren’s Newcastle victory
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ByEurosport
Updated 09/08/2015 at 15:12 GMT
Premier League, St James' Park - Newcastle United 2 (Cisse 42, G. Wijnaldum 48) Southampton 2 (Pelle 24, S. Long 79)
Southampton's Graziano Pelle (C) celebrates
Image credit: AFP
Southampton substitute Shane Long scored a towering header to deny Newcastle victory in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Southampton opened the scoring through Graziano Pelle who outjumped his marker and powered his header into the bottom corner.
Saints survived a couple of penalty appeals for handball, but were undone a minute before half time when Papiss Cisse chested in a deflected cross from the left.
Southampton should have gone ahead when Maya Yoshida somehow missed a free header and Saints were made to pay when Newcastle scored a brilliant goal on the break moments later, with Gabriel Obertan whipping in a cross from the right and debutant Georginio Wijnaldum buried a superb header.
Newcastle were edging towards the win but Southampton kept fighting and were rewarded when substitute Shane Long headed in after Dusan Tadic did well to pick out the Irishman.
Sadio Mane had two great chances to snatch all three points in injury time, but Jack Colback saved his side with a great block before Mane put wide when he had to score.
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Newcastle United's Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England, on August
Image credit: Reuters
KEY MOMENTS
6’ CHANCE! Sissoko creates the chance with a driving run and cut back to debutant Wijnaldum, but the Dutchman's shot is blocked by Davis. Could so easily have been a debut goal.
24’ GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Southampton: Pelle scores for Southampton! He's hardly had a touch in the game but opens his account for the season with a towering header. Credit to Cédric Soares, whose cross from the right was perfect.
29’ PENALTY APPEAL - Strong appeal for a Newcastle penalty as Colback's corner appears to strike Jay Rodriguez on the arm - but replays suggest it was the upper chest and not the arm. Good decision.
42’ GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 Southampton: Papiss Cisse chests in a deflected cross to put the Magpies level. Perfect time to get the equaliser!
48’ GOAL! Newcastle 2-1 Southampton: Wijnaldum scores! Obertan chases what looked like a lost cause down the right, whips in a first-time cross and Wijnaldum heads it in! Top goal.
79’ GOAL! Newcastle 2-2 Southampton: Long equalises for Saints! Tadic picks him out with a superb cross from the right and the Irishman, still with plenty to do, directs his header into the corner.
90’+2 GREAT BLOCK! Mane twists and turns his way into a shooting position and looks odds on to score, but Colback makes a magnificent block to deny him.
90’+4 BIG MISS! Sane misses another big chance after another superb strong run, but passes his shot wide. Should have scored.
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Southampton's Dusan Tadic in action with Newcastle's Gabriel Obertan
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
This was only Pellè’s second Premier League goal away from St Mary's for Southampton (13 in total).
Southampton went into this having won their last three league games against Newcastle, scoring 10 and conceding just one.
TALKING POINT
Can Steve McClaren’s Newcastle improve on last season? Well, if they don’t they’ll get relegated. The pressure is on the former England boss to ensure his new signings hit the ground running. The early signs are positive but Swansea, Manchester United and Arsenal are Newcastle’s next three opponents.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jack Colback (Newcastle) – Sissoko and Tadic ran him close but Colback gets it for a committed and combative midfield performance. Was the heartbeat of the Newcastle team and the driving force behind everything they created. And his block on Mane in the dying seconds was absolutely vital.
PLAYER RATINGS
Newcastle: Krul 7; Janmaat 7, Mbemba 7, Coloccini 6, Haidara 6; Anita 6, Colback 8; Sissoko 8, Wijnaldum 7, Obertan 7; Cisse 7. Subs: Tiote 6, Mitrovic 6, De Jong n/a.
Southampton: Stekelenburg 7, Cedric 7, Fonte 7, Yoshida 6, Targett 6, Wanyama 6, S. Davis 7, Tadic 8, Mane 7, Rodriguez 7, Pelle 7. Subs: Martina 6, Long 7.
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