Premier League: Newcastle United 4 Southampton 2

Newcastle United swept past Southampton 4-2 in a thrilling Premier League encounter at St James’ Park on Sunday.

Newcastle United swept past Southampton 4-2 in a thrilling Premier League encounter at St James’ Park on Sunday.

The visitors had taken an early lead through Morgan Schneiderlin before Moussa Sissoko equalised and Papiss Cisse scored a sensational 35-yard volley to give Newcastle a half-time lead.

Southampton responded through Rickie Lambert’s 100th goal for the club straight after the restart, but a Yohan Cabaye penalty and Jos Hooiveld own-goal sealed victory to give the hosts their third win in four league games.

The visitors made a sensational start as Jack Cork whipped a dangerous cross into Lambert, who nodded down for Schneiderlin to smash home a near-post half-volley after just three minutes.

But Newcastle began to quash Southampton’s superiority as Sissoko – on his St James’ Park debut – smashed a low drive across goal to force Artur Boruc into a diving save.

Next to come close for the hosts was Cisse as Yoann Gouffran’s mishit shot fell straight to the Senegalese forward, only for him to lose his footing and fire miserably wide from just yards out.

By the half-hour mark, though, Alan Pardew’s side had taken complete control and Sissoko would soon give them just reward. On 33 minutes, Gouffran unleashed a low shot straight at Boruc, who sent the ball into the path where Sissoko awaited to tap-in the equaliser.

And 10 minutes later, the home side had the lead thanks to an unstoppable strike from Cisse. Stand-in goalkeeper Rob Elliot had thumped a long ball up-field and the 27-year-old smashed a flawless volley straight into the top corner from 35 yards out.

Southampton responded immediately after the break as Lambert went close with an excellent free-kick that was matched by Elliot’s fingertip save.

The 31-year-old would not be denied at the second time of asking, however, as Adam Lallana sent a low cross into the area and the forward pounced to score his 100th Southampton goal.

Southampton’s brief ascendancy was followed by a period of Newcastle pressure and on 66 minutes, the hosts had their reward with a penalty.

Danny Fox had handled Debuchy’s cross in the area and Cabaye became the third Frenchman of the game to score as he calmly slotted the spot-kick past Boruc.

Southampton’s misery was compounded after 79 minutes, when Fox cleared Davide Santon’s cross straight into the shins of Hooiveld, with the ball sailing in for the Dutchman’s third own-goal of the season.