Alexander Isak became the first Newcastle United player to score in five successive Premier League away matches on Saturday afternoon, as the Magpies came from behind to record a 3-1 victory over basement side Southampton.
Jan Bednarek's thumping header sent Southampton ahead early on, but Isak scored twice in the space of four first-half minutes, one of which was from the penalty spot, to turn the match around at St Mary's.
Isak has now become the first Newcastle player to score in five consecutive Premier League away matches, while he is now on 17 league goals for the campaign, one below Erling Haaland and just two behind Mohamed Salah.
Newcastle then scored a third early in the second period through Sandro Tonali; Southampton thought that they had a second late on through Mateus Fernandes, but his effort was chalked off following a VAR check, with the Magpies running out 3-1 winners on the afternoon.
Eddie Howe's side will end the weekend in fifth spot in the Premier League table, one point ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea, while Southampton remain rock bottom of the division, 10 points from the safety of 17th position.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
It all started so well for Southampton, but the quick-fire brace from Isak was incredibly damaging, and the Saints have now suffered their 19th defeat from 23 Premier League matches during the 2024-25 campaign.
Southampton are 10 points behind 17th spot, and considering that they have picked up just six points from their opening 23 matches, it is incredibly difficult to imagine them staying in the division this term.
While the Saints are staring at relegation, Newcastle are a team on the rise, with the Magpies looking every inch an outfit capable of securing a return to the Champions League for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Magpies are packed full of talent, but they boast arguably the best striker in Europe, certainly in the Premier League, with Haaland not quite showing his best form this season despite another very healthy goal return.
Isak is on 17 Premier League goals this season and 19 in all competitions, and the 25-year-old's second goal at St Mary's was an indication of his immense talent, with the touch and finish from the Swede absolutely exceptional.
SOUTHAMPTON VS. NEWCASTLE HIGHLIGHTS
10th min: Southampton 1-0 Newcastle (Jan Bednarek)
Southampton make the breakthrough in the 10th minute of the contest, and it is a towering header from Bednarek, with the centre-back converting a cross from James Bree; the Saints take the lead against the Magpies at St Mary's.
26th min: Southampton 1-1 Newcastle (Alexander Isak, penalty)
Newcastle level the score from the penalty spot, as Isak converts his effort; extremely calm from the in-form striker, who sends the goalkeeper the wrong way, and Howe's side are on terms here.
30th min: Southampton 1-2 Newcastle (Alexander Isak)
Newcastle take the lead at St Mary's, and it is Isak once again, with the striker collecting a pass from Jacob Murphy before rolling the ball into the bottom corner off the inside of the post - that is a finish of the very highest standard.
51st min: Southampton 1-3 Newcastle (Sandro Tonali)
Newcastle score their third of the match, and put themselves in a very strong position when it comes to winning the match, as Tonali races onto a clever pass from Anthony Gordon before finishing into the back of the net.
84th min: Southampton 1-3 Newcastle (Mateus Fernandes disallowed goal)
Now then! Southampton think they have a second in the 84th minute through Fernandes, who expertly finishes past the goalkeeper after lacklustre defending from Newcastle, but it is disallowed for offside following a VAR check.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ALEXANDER ISAK
© Imago
Isak is a goal machine, but his general play is also terrific, with Newcastle playing off the Swede, who has an incredible touch and a wonderful appreciation of the spaces that his teammates pick up.
The forward netted a brace at St Mary's, but his overall play was brilliant, with Southampton simply unable to deal with him, and the only disappointment was that he was unable to make it a hat trick on Saturday afternoon.
SOUTHAMPTON VS. NEWCASTLE MATCH STATS
Possession: Southampton 52%-48% Newcastle
Shots: Southampton 12-17 Newcastle
Shots on target: Southampton 5-9 Newcastle
Corners: Southampton 3-8 Newcastle
Fouls: Southampton 10-5 Newcastle
BEST STATS
Alexander Isak has now scored as many Premier League goals as Erling Haaland this season (17), in fewer minutes 👏 pic.twitter.com/rb52rtGMcX
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 25, 2025
Newcastle history has been made! 🙌
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 25, 2025
Alexander Isak has scored twice in four minutes and become the first Newcastle player to score in 5️⃣ consecutive Premier League away games.#BBCFootball #SOUNEW pic.twitter.com/CTYF90mQKQ
The most times one Newcastle player has assisted another in a Premier League campaign:
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 25, 2025
◎ 6 - Solano to Shearer (1999/00)
◎ 6 - Robert to Shearer (2001/02)
◎ 6 - Rondón to Pérez (2018/19)
◉ 6 - Murphy to Isak (2024/25)
And there's still plenty of time to set a new record. 🏅 pic.twitter.com/pGbZV4jOTA
WHAT NEXT?
Newcastle will be bidding to make it successive wins in the Premier League when they welcome Fulham to St James' Park next Saturday, before hosting Arsenal for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final four days later.
Southampton, meanwhile, will continue their battle against the drop away to Ipswich Town next Saturday, and that contest is a must-win fixture for the Saints, even at this stage of the campaign.
Matt Law
