Manolo Gabbiadini's double rescued Southampton as his side twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 Premier League draw against Newcastle, writes Tom Allnutt.

Saints looked to be staring down the barrel of a third straight league defeat when Isaac Hayden and Ayoze Perez put Newcastle ahead in each half at St Mary's Stadium.

But both times Gabbiadini hit back, his second goal coming from the penalty spot after Newcastle's Florian Lejeune had brought down Shane Long.

Gabbiadini was making his first start in more than a month and Mauricio Pellegrino will hope his brace prompts a return to the sort of form that saw the Italian score six goals in his first four games for Southampton last season.

He had previously only managed one so far this term.

Isaac Hayden scored the opener (
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The striker's intervention here will also come as a relief to England hopeful Fraser Forster after the goalkeeper endured several shaky moments and was caught out of position for both Newcastle's goals.

For Rafael Benitez's side, who stay ninth, this was an opportunity missed against a team struggling for goals and confidence but the game might have been very different had DeAndre Yedlin been handed a second yellow card for a late challenge early in the second period.

Long was passed fit, despite missing the Republic of Ireland's win over Wales with a hip injury, while Jonjo Shelvey wore a cast on his hand after breaking a finger trying to break up a training ground row last week.

Manolo Gabbiadini celebrates his first (
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This was something of a battle between the master and the apprentice considering Pellegrino played under Benitez at both Valencia and Liverpool and then later joined the Spaniard's coaching staff at Anfield.

Roy Hodgson was also watching on in the crowd, with his rejuvenated Crystal Palace side up against Newcastle next weekend.

He might have been encouraged by Newcastle's defending early on as Dusan Tadic should have put Southampton in front but nodded Nathan Redmond's cross over when left free at the back post.

It proved a costly miss because in the 20th minute, the visitors took the lead.

Ayoze Perez scores (
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Christian Atsu's driven effort was blocked by Maya Yoshida, but with Forster already diving to his left, Hayden's first-time shot wrong-footed the goalkeeper and hit the back of the net.

Southampton lost their way and when a free-kick routine resulted in Redmond side-footing straight to his opponent's feet, the home crowd let out a collective groan of irritation.

Newcastle almost doubled their advantage early in the second half when Perez's feathered finish dropped onto the bar before two goals arrived, one at each end, in as many minutes.

First, Gabbiadini whipped a shot through the legs of Javier Manquillo and into the bottom corner before Perez restored the Magpies' lead, reacting fastest to Forster saving his initial shot by squeezing in the rebound from the angle.

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Forster, who had already flapped a cross behind and seen a clearance closed down, might have been disappointed not at least to have covered off his near post.

Newcastle were back in the driving seat but fortunate not to play the last half an hour with 10 men as Yedlin, already booked, flew in high and late on Redmond. Referee Kevin Friend judged a final warning punishment enough.

There was no doubt about the penalty decision with 15 minutes left, however, as Lejeune needlessly fouled Long when the striker was posing little threat to Newcastle's goal. Gabbiadini slammed the spot-kick home to level up.

Both teams pushed forward in search of a late winner and Lejeune almost made amends for his earlier error, only for substitute Steven Davis to clear the Frenchman's 89th-minute header off the line. It was a dramatic end to a thrilling contest.

GOAL! GABBIADINI

That is a really really silly tackle from Lejeune on Long.

The Irishman wasn’t going anywhere other than off the pitch, but down he went.

Gabbiadini smashes in the resulting spot kick and we are level.

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Faces in the crowd

Do you think that smile has left Roy Hodgson’s face since yesterday?

His Palace side won for the first time this season, against Chelsea no less.

He might be watching a relegation rival today based on Southampton’s performance.

Richard Scudamore is also around.

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Fraser Forster

Below is Forster’s positioning just after Hayden and Perez had shot for their goals.

In neither is he in a good position.

The first is kind of bad luck as the ball was deflected in front of him.

The second though was his own fault, an abysmal save straight back into danger.

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GOALS

Southampton went from elated to deflated in 86 seconds.

Gabbiadini did brilliantly for his goal, skill, vision and finishing all high class.

Then Forster dropped another clanger to give Perez a goal and put Newcastle back in front.

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Attendance watch

Decent support at St Mary’s this afternoon.

Not much for them to smile about yet though.

Half time

As the half time whistle goes it is quite hard to see Southampton scoring in this one.

Shane Long’s last goal was in February and Manolo Gabbiadini is looking very short of confidence.

Maybe time for Charlie Austin to bully Saints towards the net.

Newcastle will be happy with how things are going.

Hayden’s goal had a pinch of fortune but otherwise they have impressed at both ends of the pitch.

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Newcastle tactics part 2

This picture is a good example of what Newcastle are doing very right this afternoon.

Southampton’s central midfielder Lamina is in possession but is crowded out by two Newcastle players, with another coming for support.

Saints therefore getting bullied into changing their focal points as they change the game.

Also worth mentioning, Lascelles has been a rock when the hosts do breakthrough.

Top defending and most importantly brave.

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Newcastle tactics

Rafa Benitez has done a number on Southampton today.

He has forced Saints down the wings and stifled their industry and attacking areas.

Saints have had a problem scoring goals since the end of last season and it isn’t being remedied today.

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Stat attack

This hints at something wrong with either Southampton’s midfield or keeping.

The midfield, or Romeu and Lamina, need to close down better and in this case be more aware of the second ball.

In the case of Forster he needs to improve his shot stopping.

Potentially the back line should be blocking these long range shots.

Whatever the issue they need to sort it quickly.

Hayden's goal pics

Make no mistakes about it, this was a quality strike from Hayden.

But big question marks over Forster.

He committed himself to an earlier blocked effort and was powerless to stop the blast.

Nonetheless Newcastle lead and deservedly so.

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Newcastle at St Mary's

Newcastle don’t have a good record on the south coast.

In fact they haven’t won at St Mary’s in the league since their second venture to the ground in 2004.

The results since: 2-0, 4-0, 4-0 and 3-1.

Could they upset that record this afternoon?

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Fraser Forster

The next six months or so are huge for Fraser Forster.

His plane ticket to Russia is very much on hold, with Hart, Butland, Heaton and Pickford all seemingly above him in England’s pecking order.

The former Newcastle man has plenty to do to convince the Saints faithful he is their No.1 too.

The giant shot stopper has become a boo boy on the south coast after a dismal campaign last season.

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Fans

It is a long way down from Newcastle to Southampton.

So far it is almost impossible to measure the distance...probably.

But looks like a decent turn out from the Toon Army and they all seem to have stylish poses out side St Mary’s.

If sprawling yourself on the pavement isn’t your jam you can watch policemen kick football’s behind the Kingsland Stand.

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Newcastle team news

Ritchie missed out on international duty but returns for Newcastle.

Otherwise as expected from Rafa Benitez.

Newcastle XI: Elliot; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo; Hayden, Shelvey; Ritchie, Perez, Atsu; Joselu

Southampton team news

Yoshida keeps his place ahead of Hoedt.

Long recovers from his international duty injury to start instead of Austin.

Forster, Cedric, van Dijk, Yoshida, Bertrand, Romeu, Lemina, Tadic, Redmond, Gabbiadini, Long

Nothing to separate these two sides at the break.

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It’s still goalless at the Amex but Everton are playing some nice football at the moment.

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The ground is filling up. Kick off is now just over 10 minutes away...

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Welcome

Forward Shane Long will be available for Southampton in their Premier League clash against Newcastle at St Mary’s Stadium.

Long was absent from the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Wales with a hip injury, but is available for Mauricio Pellegrino when his side entertain the Magpies.

Pellegrino also revealed there were no fresh injury concerns following the international break for the visit of Rafael Benitez’s side on Sunday.

Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey will be available for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Southampton despite breaking a finger as he intervened in a training ground bust-up.

Shelvey was hurt as he stepped in between skipper Jamaal Lascelles and Mohamed Diame as tempers flared during the international break, but will play, if selected, wearing a special cast.

Manager Rafael Benitez otherwise had no fresh injuries with only defender Paul Dummett (hamstring) and Massadio Haidara (knee) still missing.