Source: telegraph
Southampton 2 Newcastle United 0: match report
Alan Pardew, the Newcastle
United manager, endured a disappointing return to Southampton
as his side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Nigel Adkins’ relegation
strugglers on Sunday.
Goals from Adam Lallana – who made his first team breakthrough under Pardew –
and Southampton’s record signing Gaston Ramirez hoisted the hosts out of the
bottom three for the first time since August.
Pardew spent 13 months in charge at the St Mary’s Stadium before being sacked
by Nicola Cortese, the Southampton chairman, only four games into the
2010-11 season and was given a warm reception from the home supporters
before kick-off.
Sadly for Pardew, the Southampton players were less accommodating as they
claimed only their third Barclays Premier League victory of the campaign.
It could have been a different outcome had Saints goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga’s
clumsy 15th minute clearance ended up in the back of the net after being
charged down by Demba Ba instead of looping up in the air and into the arms
of the grateful goalkeeper.