Southampton 2-2 Newcastle: Manolo Gabbiadini's penalty ensures Saints rescue point as Italian striker scores twice for hosts in Premier League encounter

  • Isaac Hayden gave Newcastle the lead on 20 minutes thanks to a powerful shot from outside of the area
  • Manolo Gabbiadini then equalised for Southampton in the 49th minute with a fine individual effort 
  • However, Rafa Benitez's outfit went straight up the other end and scored through Ayoze Perez
  • Italian striker Gabbiadini was on hand to level again from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining 
  • RECAP: Take a look back at all the action here from the Premier League clash at St Mary's on Sunday 

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Newcastle proved their fighting spirit extends beyond the confines of the training ground to the satisfaction of manager Rafa Benitez.

After an international break dominated by a training-ground bust-up, Benitez applauded the effort of his team as the Geordies took a point north from the long haul to Southampton for the first time in 13 years.

Twice they led through goals by Isaac Hayden and Ayoze Perez, but Saints responded to salvage a draw with two Manolo Gabbiadini goals, the second a penalty. 'The spirit is very good,' said Benitez. 'The city and the fans, everybody is behind the team and the players see that. We have a lot of people together working hard for each other.

Manolo Gabbiadini scored twice, including once from the penalty spot, as Southampton drew 2-2 with Newcastle on Sunday

Manolo Gabbiadini scored twice, including once from the penalty spot, as Southampton drew 2-2 with Newcastle on Sunday

Rob Elliot looks dejected after Gabbiadini netted from the penalty spot with just 15 minutes of normal time remaining

Rob Elliot looks dejected after Gabbiadini netted from the penalty spot with just 15 minutes of normal time remaining

Gabbiadini stepped up to the plate after Shane Long was brought down following a clumsy challenge from Florian Lejeune 

Gabbiadini stepped up to the plate after Shane Long was brought down following a clumsy challenge from Florian Lejeune 

Ireland international Long pictured being brought down by Newcastle defender Lejeune in the closing stages on the weekend

Ireland international Long pictured being brought down by Newcastle defender Lejeune in the closing stages on the weekend

PLAYER RATINGS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

SOUTHAMPTON: Forster 5; Soares 6, Yoshida 6, Van Dijk 6.5, Bertrand 6; Tadic 6, Romeu 6.5 (Davis 67, 6), Lemina 7, Redmond 6 (Boufal 57, 6); Gabbiadini 7.5, Long 6.5 (Austin 82).


GOALS: Gabbiadini 50, 75 (pen)

BOOKINGS: Gabbiadini

SUBS: McCarthy, Hoedt, McQueen, Ward-Prowse.

MANAGER: Maurcio Pellegrino 6.5

NEWCASTLE: Elliot 6; Yedlin 6, Lascelles 7, Lejeune 6, Manquillo 6; Hayden 6.5, Shelvey 7; Ritchie 7, Perez 7 (Merino 63, 5), Atsu 6.5 (Murphy 82); Joselu 6 (Gayle 68, 5).

GOALS: Hayden 20, Perez 51

BOOKINGS: Yedlin, Hayden,

SUBS: Darlow, Clarke, Diame, Gamez.

MANAGER: Rafa Benitez 6.5

REF: Kevin Friend 6.5 

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

 

This is how Manolo Gabbiadini levelled the scoring at 1-1 on Sunday. CLICK HERE to find out more from our brilliant MATCH ZONE.

This is how Manolo Gabbiadini levelled the scoring at 1-1 on Sunday. CLICK HERE to find out more from our brilliant MATCH ZONE.

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'You are disappointed because you could win and we brought 3,500 fans on a Sunday on a long trip and it is a pity not to give them three points. I am not happy with the goals conceded but at the same time you are happy because you have a point away against a good team. Overall if was a good performance, creating chances.'

SUPER STAT

Ayoze Perez ended a run of 1,135 minutes without a Premier League goal — his last goal had come against Bournemouth in March 2016.

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Few had anticipated such entertaining fare. Saints had failed to score in 10 of their previous 12 home fixtures and boss Mauricio Pellegrino tackled the problem by selecting two central strikers and two genuine wingers against the team managed by his mentor Benitez.

The tempo was brisk, the passing fluent, mistakes rife and opportunities came and went, even before Hayden lashed the opener past former Newcastle keeper Fraser Forster.

Newcastle goalscorers Hayden and Perez high five each other after the latter got on the scoresheet to make it 2-1

Newcastle goalscorers Hayden and Perez high five each other after the latter got on the scoresheet to make it 2-1

The Spanish forward is hugged by Newcastle team-mate Mikel Merino after putting his side 2-1 ahead

The Spanish forward is hugged by Newcastle team-mate Mikel Merino after putting his side 2-1 ahead

The 24-year-old celebrates in front of dejected Southampton fans during a frantic period during the match

The 24-year-old celebrates in front of dejected Southampton fans during a frantic period during the match

Perez photographed firing the ball past Fraser Forster at the near post just 96 seconds after Newcastle were pegged back 

Perez photographed firing the ball past Fraser Forster at the near post just 96 seconds after Newcastle were pegged back 

Matt Ritchie's cross from the left was deflected to the feet of Christian Atsu but his half-volley on the turn was blocked by Maya Yoshida. The rebound spun to Hayden, five yards outside the area, and he met it with a first-time strike which fizzed through a crowd and deceived Forster.

Saints almost conceded a second in freakish circumstances early in the second half. A cross by Perez was met at the near post by a combination of Yoshida and Joselu, looped high and hit the bar.

Gabbiadini equalised with his first goal for nearly two months. The chance seemed to have gone when the Italian striker was forced wide and opted against a pass inside to Cedric Soares.

Instead, he wriggled into a shooting position and snapped a low effort past Rob Elliot with his left foot from inside the box.

'Manolo is an important player,' said Pellegrino. 'He is working hard and the goals complete a striker's job.'

Gabbiadini wheels off to celebrate levelling the scoring momentarily on Sunday thanks to a fine individual effort

Gabbiadini wheels off to celebrate levelling the scoring momentarily on Sunday thanks to a fine individual effort

Gabbiadini is congratulated by team-mate Ryan Bertrand after equalising early in the second period at St Mary's

Gabbiadini is congratulated by team-mate Ryan Bertrand after equalising early in the second period at St Mary's

The Italian striker showed great composure as he netted at  Elliot's near post to level proceedings at 1-1

The Italian striker showed great composure as he netted at Elliot's near post to level proceedings at 1-1

An ecstatic Isaac Hayden celebrates in front of the travelling Newcastle supporters after opening the scoring

An ecstatic Isaac Hayden celebrates in front of the travelling Newcastle supporters after opening the scoring

Hayden is mobbed by his team-mates after putting Newcastle ahead in the 20th minute with a powerful strike

Hayden is mobbed by his team-mates after putting Newcastle ahead in the 20th minute with a powerful strike

The 22-year-old pictured firing the ball home from the edge of the penalty area on Sunday afternoon

The 22-year-old pictured firing the ball home from the edge of the penalty area on Sunday afternoon

Newcastle scored their first away goal in opening period of a Premier League fixture for the first time since November 2015

Newcastle scored their first away goal in opening period of a Premier League fixture for the first time since November 2015

Newcastle fans celebrate after the former Arsenal man put their side ahead 1-0 against Mauricio Pellegrino's outfit

Newcastle fans celebrate after the former Arsenal man put their side ahead 1-0 against Mauricio Pellegrino's outfit

Relief washed around the stadium. Perhaps too much because Newcastle were celebrating their second goal within two minutes.

GRAHAM POLL'S VERDICT

Southampton's task would have been easier if Kevin Friend had not been so lenient when DeAndre Yedlin's reckless tackle wiped out Nathan Redmond.

It was a clear yellow card and as the American had already been cautioned, he should have been sent off.

Overall, Friend had a good game though and was right to award Saints the penalty which earned them a point.

Referees are remembered for what they give — not what they don't — so Friend will have driven home content that the talk after the game was about the entertaining football rather than him.

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Jonjo Shelvey, playing with a cast on his left hand to protect the finger broken when he tried to stop the fight between Jamaal Lascelles and Mo Diame, instigated the attack, as he did so often from central midfield, and Ritchie released Perez through the inside-right channel.

His first effort was beaten back to him by Forster, who then made a mess of his angles and was beaten at the near post.

'We conceded too quickly, a soft goal,' said Pellegrino. 'We have to be better organised but it was a chaotic game and I will take some responsibility because sometimes you have to break the game to create something.'

DeAndre Yedlin escaped a sending-off as Newcastle dug in. Having been booked in the first half for disputing a free-kick, Yedlin was late on Nathan Redmond and must have been relieved when referee Kevin Friend let him off.

Friend had no room for discretion, however, when Florian Lejeune lumbered across and tripped Shane Long inside the area. The referee pointed straight to the spot.

'It seemed from the bench to be a penalty,' conceded Benitez and up stepped Gabbiadini to beat Elliot with confidence.

Newcastle settled for the point, which keeps them locked inside the top half of the table.

Nathan Redmond passes the ball on to a team-mate as he is pressured by Matt Ritchie and DeAndre Yedlin 

Nathan Redmond passes the ball on to a team-mate as he is pressured by Matt Ritchie and DeAndre Yedlin 

English winger Redmond gestures while Southampton boss Pellegrino looks on during the top flight encounter

English winger Redmond gestures while Southampton boss Pellegrino looks on during the top flight encounter

Southampton's Mario Lemina evades a tackle from Javier Manquillo in the early stages on Sunday afternoon at St Mary's 

Southampton's Mario Lemina evades a tackle from Javier Manquillo in the early stages on Sunday afternoon at St Mary's 

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez appeared in a focused mood ahead of the Premier League encounter on the south coast

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez appeared in a focused mood ahead of the Premier League encounter on the south coast