A Jay Rodriguez goal helped clawed back a point for Southampton against Newcastle in a bad-tempered match at St. James' Park packed with incident. Yoan Gouffran earlier notched his fifth goal of the season before the Saints drew level, and as tempers frayed there was a bizarre injury to the referee and a brawl in the dug-out. The hosts were first to threaten after just five minutes as full-back Mathieu Debuchy took the ball on the volley and rocketed an edge-of-the-box howitzer past the onlooking Andrea Gazzaniga's left post. And six minutes later Newcastle continued their early pressing with the Saints defence dug in on the goal-line after a goalmouth scramble, Loic Remy found his open-goal attempt blocked. The visitors mustered their first effort on target just after the quarter-hour mark, as young midfielder James Ward-Prowse attempted a tame shot from distance, easily gathered by Tim Krul. The deadlock broke 28 minutes with Jos Hooiveld missing an interception from Debuchy's deflected free-kick, Gouffran ghosted onto the ball, rounded Paulo Gazzaniga and coolly slotted home. Southampton came back after half-time with a point to prove and Rodriguez could've scored on 51 minutes put through by Rickie Lambert's lofted ball, the former Burnley man's outstretched leg couldn't reach the ball. Newcastle's first chance of the half came five minutes later taking advantage of a headed-down Krul goal-kick, Remy fired from outside the box but saw his attempted smothered by Gazzaniga. But the Saints dramatically burst into life on 64 minutes as Steven Davis took the ball on the volley and rattled Tim Krul's right post. Two minutes Southampton turned their threat into a goal with Rodriguez put through by Adam Lallana, the forward played the one-two with Davis and, with calls for offside from the crowd, tucked it past Krul. But the hosts came roaring back and could've scored on 72 minutes when Remy pounced on a fluffed Gazzaniga clearance, but couldn't find his target and ballooned it over high and wide. And seven minutes later Newcastle kept the pressure on as Hatem Ben Arfa on as a substitute almost beat Gazzaniga at his near post with a corner delivery, forcing the Argentinean into a save. In the final moments the match devolved into farce Sissoko accidentally struck referee Mike Jones after an argument with the Saints goalkeeper, sending the official sprawling to the turf and requiring treatment. And the controversy continued minutes later as the coaching teams physically clashed following a bone-crunching challenge from Morgan Schneiderlin, which led to remonstrations from the Newcastle staff. The draw keeps both sides comfortably in the upper echelons of the league, but Newcastle might lose their sixth-place standing after Tottenham's game against Liverpool tomorrow.
Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League.
You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.
