EPL: Southampton 2-2 Newcastle United

Manolo Gabbiadini double rescues point for Saints

Southampton twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Newcastle in the Premier League at St Mary’s.

Rafael Benitez’s Magpies went in front after 20 minutes through Isaac Hayden’s first top-flight goal, but Manolo Gabbiadini equalised early in the second half for the Saints.

The host were only level for 90 seconds when Ayoze Perez put Newcastle back in front but Gabbiadini fired in from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining to earn Mauricio Pellegrino’s side a share of the spoils.

The point moves the Saints up to tenth on nine points while Newcastle remain in ninth with two more points.

Following a fairly low-key opening, Christian Atsu had the first real shot in anger in the ninth minute when he hit a low left-foot strike from the left edge of the area which flew narrowly wide and into the side-netting.

Dusan Tadic got on the end of a Nathan Redmond cross from the left on 16 minutes but could only guide his back-post header over the top.

He was made to pay for that miss on 20 minutes when Newcastle took the lead.

Atsu’s first-time effort in the middle of the area from Matt Ritchie’s left-wing cross was blocked by Maya Yoshida but the rebound rolled to Hayden on the edge of the area and his strike beat the wrong-footed Fraser Forster.

The Saints went close to equalising two minutes later when Virgil van Dijk got up highest at the front post to meet Redmond’s left-wing corner but his flick header dropped wide of the far corner.

The Saints did increase the pressure as the half wore on but the Magpies' defence held firm.

Newcastle started the second half brightly as Joselu stuck a leg out to divert Perez’s cross from the right towards goal and watched as the ball bounced off the crossbar, before Jonjo Shelvey’s dipping cross-shot was pushed wide by Forster moments later.

Saints were level on 49 minutes when Gabbiadini brought the ball down inside the Newcastle area and managed to hold off Javier Manquillo before stealing half a yard to hit a low strike beyond the dive of Robbie Elliot.

However, parity lasted less than two minutes as Newcastle went to the opposite end to re-take the lead on 51 minutes.

Perez saw his initial effort from the right of the area parried by Forster, but he followed up and beat the England international inside his near post from a very tight angle.

The Saints were gifted a chance to level on 75 minutes which Gabbiadini gratefully accepted as he smashed his penalty into the corner of the net after Florian Lejeune clumsily bundled over Shane Long in the area.

Lejeune almost made amends with a winning goal in the 89th minute when he powered a header down towards the bottom corner but Steven Davis was on the post to hack his effort off the line.