Spirited Saints Beaten By Perez Hat-trick

20th April 2019 - by Southampton FC

James Ward-Prowse shifted across to right wing-back as Oriol Romeu came into the midfield to make his 150th appearance for the club

James Ward-Prowse of Southampton brings down Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton FC at St. James Park on April 20, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.PHOTO/ GETTY IMAGES

SUMMARY

Ayoze Perez was the toast of St James’ Park as the Spaniard’s first Newcastle hat-trick left Southampton embarking on the long journey home from the North East with nothing to show for a spirited second-half display
But a double substitution at the interval breathed new life into Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men, as both replacements combined to halve the deficit when Mario Lemina dispatched Stuart Armstrong’s pass in style on his first appearance of 2019
Newcastle, two points better off at the start of play, were targeting a victory that would take them beyond the coveted 40, and were straight on the front foot when Miguel Almiron volleyed the ball against Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in the very first minute

NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom- Ayoze Perez was the toast of St James’ Park as the Spaniard’s first Newcastle hat-trick left Southampton embarking on the long journey home from the North East with nothing to show for a spirited second-half display.

The hosts were the better team in a first half in which Perez struck twice in four minutes to leave Saints with a mountain to climb.

But a double substitution at the interval breathed new life into Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men, as both replacements combined to halve the deficit when Mario Lemina dispatched Stuart Armstrong’s pass in style on his first appearance of 2019.

With Saints chasing an equaliser, Perez was alert to finish the job with his third goal of the day – an instinctive header four minutes from time.

Hasenhüttl was forced into two changes to his side who took a giant step towards Premier League survival by beating Wolves at St Mary’s last time out – Saints’ fourth win in six matches.

Jannik Vestergaard, having missed a couple of days’ training this week, was not deemed fit to play, while Yan Valery was taken ill.

That meant a return to the starting line-up for Jack Stephens, while James Ward-Prowse shifted across to right wing-back as Oriol Romeu came into the midfield to make his 150th appearance for the club.

Newcastle, two points better off at the start of play, were targeting a victory that would take them beyond the coveted 40, and were straight on the front foot when Miguel Almiron volleyed the ball against Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in the very first minute.

Cue optimistic cries for handball from the Toon Army, but the Dane was far too close to have any hope of avoiding the contact.

Stephens’s first involvement was to chase Almiron back towards the Saints goal, as Newcastle’s record signing arrowed a shot on the run from a tricky angle that sent Angus Gunn flying away to his left to concede a corner.

When Saints had the opportunity to mount an attack of their own, Danny Ings was wasteful with his pass after Josh Sims and Nathan Redmond raced forward in support of the striker.

Then Redmond beat the offside trap to find space down the left, cutting the ball back for Ward-Prowse, who had a free sight of goal until Matt Ritchie threw himself in the way.

Having threatened to open the deadlock at one end, Ward-Prowse was soon walking a tightrope at the other, as Newcastle broke from the resulting corner.

As Almiron surged beyond him, the Saints midfielder cynically blocked his path, leaving the natives baying for a red card as Ward-Prowse escaped with a yellow.

But a noisy home crowd soon had reason to raise the decibel level another notch or two as their team opened the scoring in the 27th minute.