Southampton 1-2 Newcastle: Chris Wood and Bruno Guimaraes net in comeback victory

It was almost inevitable that Newcastle’s new faces would have a decisive impact wasn’t it? It was just a matter of who and how many. In the end it was two though there were plenty to pick from.

Eddie Howe fielded six players who were not available when these sides were originally due to meet in early January before being postponed due to Newcastle’s Covid and injury situation back then.

Less than impressed at the time about the prospect of facing a new-look team in the rescheduled game, Ralph Hasenhuttl had calmed down by the time Newcastle arrived at St Mary’s.

Bruno Guimaraes netted the winner to score his first goal for Newcastle in a 2-1 victory

It is a huge result for Newcastle who are now ten points clear of the relegation zone

Though the identity of the men who sent his team to a first home league defeat since September would not have been lost on Southampton’s manager.

Chris Wood, a £25m signing, picked this night of all nights to finally open his Newcastle account after seven blanks and draw Newcastle level.

But just like he had been among Newcastle’s list of winter signings, Wood was outshone by £40m addition Bruno Guimaraes who marked his full debut with an outrageous back-heeled volley.

Stuart Armstrong opened the scoring for Southampton with a scrappy goal for the hosts

Chris Wood equalised seven minutes later to score his first goal since joining from Burnley

It capped a memorable 66 minute, all-action performance from the Brazilian who looks to have all the attributes to be one of the fan favourites in Newcastle’s new era.

Thanks to Wood and Guimaraes, transformed Newcastle made it nine games unbeaten as they continued their impressive surge away from the drop-zone.

And unrepentant Howe might consider Southampton fortunate.

Had things been different he might also have been able to chuck Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin – who were also unavailable in January – at Southampton too.

Though they were back in action following a 4-0 battering at Aston Villa, Southampton had a 10-gae unbeaten home run to extend.

Newcastle, meanwhile, had not lost any of their previous eight league games anywhere.

There was evidence of both sides’ confidence early on and also what Guimaraes might bring to Newcastle.

The Brazilian displayed some skilful touches, his willingness to get on the ball and spread it around, get stuck in and also some diligent tracking back and defending.

Southampton eventually began to take control and then grabbed the lead when Dan Burn’s touch redirected the path of Stuart Armstrong’s close-range header and left his own, wrong-footed goalkeeper Martin Dubravka helpless.

Then came the moment Wood had been waiting almost two months for when he ghosted into space between Kyle Walker-Peters and Mohamed Salisu to head in Jonjo Shelvey’s cross.

Guimaraes put Newcastle 2-1 ahead with a neat backheeled volley past Fraser Forster

Were it not for the crossbar, though, Newcastle would have trailed at half-time.

Che Adams could not have caught the dropping ball any better but his thumping volley smashed against the woodwork, leaving it shaking.

Newcastle flew out of the traps after the break and at times had Newcastle hanging on. Elyounoussi’s block prevented Jacob Murphy troubling Fraser Forster. It was just a temporary reprieve.

The resulting Matt Targett corner was knocked back across goal by Burn and audaciously volleyed in by Guimaraes as he faced away from goal.

Some desperate defending inside their own six-yard box was then needed from Salisu and then Forster to prevent the visitors stretching their lead.

Southampton toiled in their attempts to find a way back into the game.

Hasenhuttl threw on former Newcastle striker Adam Armstrong for the below-par Armando Broja and then two more forwards, Shane Long and Mousa Djenepo.

Southampton have now lost two games on the bounce after previous impressive form

Eddie Howe has guided his Newcastle side to six wins in their last seven league matches

However, it was not until a late flurry that Dubravka and the defenders had to dig deep to preserve their lead.

Newcastle’s goalkeeper reacted well to tip over Tino Livramento’s cross-shot and then made a routine save to keep out Salisu’s header from the following corner.

Right at the death though Dubravka produced two brilliant stops as Newcastle held on, diving to his right and clawing out Salisu’s header when it looked to be beyond him, before tipping over Stuart Armstrong’s drive.

Meanwhile Dan Burn’s celebratory roar after Joe Willock’s last-ditch block denied Adams, was an indication of the defiance and spirit Howe has now instilled in Newcastle.