BBC SPORT | Football | Eng Prem | Newcastle hold off Saints

Newcastle 2-1 Southampton

Aaron Hughes' first Premiership goal since March 2000 gave Newcastle their fifth consecutive league win at home.

The Magpies had to come from behind after Southampton went into an early lead at St James' Park through in-form striker James Beattie.

We gave a scintillating performance in the last 20 minutes of the first half

Bobby Robson

Shola Ameobi, who was standing in for the rested Craig Bellamy, levelled for the Magpies and Hughes secured the three points that took them into sixth in the Premiership.

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Southampton got off to a blistering start and went ahead after little more than a minute.

Brett Ormerod chased down a through ball and the recalled Stephen Caldwell made a hash of the clearance, with the ball falling to Beattie whose fine volley thundered into the back of the net.

Key moments

2 mins: Beattie's volley gives Saints the perfect start

41 mins: Ameobi's close-range finish levels for Newcastle

54 mins: Hughes edges the Magpies in front

It was the sixth goal in six games for the 24-year-old striker and it seemed to leave the home side shell-shocked.

Newcastle eventually got going but their only sight on goal early on came from long-range shots by Jermaine Jenas and Hugo Viana which both failed to test Antti Niemi in the Saints goal.

Newcastle had a wonderful chance to get back on level terms in the 29th minute when Ameobi did well to spin his defender in the box.

The 21-year-old fired in a powerful shot but Niemi was equal to the task.

Southampton forward James Beattie
Beattie scored after less than two minutes

Ameobi then got on the end of an Andrew O'Brien cross but his header failed to beat Niemi.

But Ameobi's persistence paid off four minutes before the interval.

Andy Griffin's long pass released Kieron Dyer and he crossed for the striker to poke home from close range.

Newcastle were denied a penalty in the closing stages of the half when Niemi appeared to bring down Shearer.

Referee Clive Wilkes dismissed the Magpies' appeals and booked Shearer for dissent.

Newcastle went into the lead in the 54th minute when Viana slipped the ball through to Hughes, who dinked the ball over Niemi to get only the third league goal of his career.

Shearer on their side they win, Shearer on our side, we win - he was fantastic

Southampton boss Gordon Strachan

The only thing left for Newcastle was for their skipper to get his 100th league goal for the Magpies against his old side.

He had the ball in the net a minute after Hughes' goal but it was ruled out for offside before he went close from a Viana corner, but his thundering header was cleared off the line.

Saints had one last chance to rescue a point when substitute Agustin Delgado did well in the box but he curled his shot just wide of the post.

Newcastle: Given, Griffin, Caldwell, O'Brien (Dabizas 78), Hughes, Dyer, Jenas, Speed, Viana (Bernard 82), Ameobi, Shearer.
Subs Not Used: Solano, Harper, LuaLua.

Booked: Shearer.

Southampton: Niemi, Michael Svensson, Lundekvam, Dodd (Telfer 69), Bridge, Anders Svensson (Pahars 82), Oakley, Marsden, Fernandes, Beattie, Ormerod (Delgado 56).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hall.

Booked: Michael Svensson, Bridge, Ormerod.

Attendance: 51,812.

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucestershire).