Steve McClaren's competitive Newcastle United career has started with a spirited draw against Ronald Koeman's Southampton. The Magpies came flying out the blocks against the Saints with a point to prove and pressed, counter-attacked and dominated possession for a good 15 minutes. Their new-season adrenaline rush was squashed by Graziano Pelle's towering header in which Chancel Mbemba - who jumped to his optimum height - was nowhere near even making a challenge. But, unlike many of the matches under Alan Pardew and John Carver, the positive passage of play returned to the Magpies after going a goal behind and a chested finish from Papiss Cisse and a bullet-header from Georginio Wijnaldum either side of half-time put the Magpies deservedly in front. From there, Newcastle battled every second ball and a refreshing tenacity swept across St James' Park as they searched for an opening-day win. Unfortunately their relentless pressing started to waiver and the Saints dominated a 10-minute second-half spell ending with Dusan Tadic's cross finding Shane Long's head and then the back of the net. From then, both teams looked happy to settle for a point and the game finished 2-2 despite Sadio Mane going extremely close in stoppage time. Here at WhatCulture.com/NUFCwe rate all of the Newcastle players performances and analyse how they did against an extremely competent Southampton side. See how new boys Mitrovic, Wijnaldum and Mbemba all got on...
