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Southampton pile on misery for Newcastle and Alan Pardew Southampton pile on misery for Newcastle and Alan Pardew
(about 1 hour later)
The ominous truth for Alan Pardew is that his team did not even give Southampton a good game. The home side cantered to victory here, Graziano Pellè scoring twice and Jack Cork and Morgan Schneiderlin once to extend Newcastle’s wretched run and put Pardew’s job in further jeopardy. Newcastle fans had demanded signs of change, they were given a new low. After a startlingly rotten performance at St Mary’s, Newcastle lie bottom of the Premier League and patience with manager Alan Pardew seems close to expiring.
Four years ago Pardew was dismissed by Southampton in a decision that some viewed as harsh, on Saturday he returned to St Mary’s with many of the visiting supporters insisting he is lucky to still be Newcastle manager. The travelling supporters certainly made their wishes clear: there were anti-Pardew banners and chants and, at the final whistle, one fan was so unbalanced by fury that he charged towards the visiting dugout before being restrained by stewards.
The Magpies have spent most of this year engulfed in gloom, arriving here on the back of a haul of five points from the past 33 available either side of the pause between seasons. Pardew badly needed a win to quell calls for his dismissal. He could certainly not afford a repeat of his team’s wretched display here in March, when Newcastle lost 4-0 and barely seemed bothered. The Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley, is no populist and the club banned another newspaper last week (taking the total of banned publications to seven) for claiming that Pardew had only two matches to save his job but, even still, it is hard to imagine this being allowed to continue much longer. The statistics are awful – five points from the last 36 available, eight failures to score in their last 10 away matches – and it will take something extraordinary to reverse the trend. “Unless someone tells me otherwise, I’ll continue to prepare the team,” said Pardew after the latest defeat.
How he must have abhorred his team’s start, then. Newcastle almost fell behind within 40 seconds, as Fabricio Coloccini left a back pass short and Tim Krul’s rushed clearance was charged down by Shane Long before bouncing inches wide. The very last thing Pardew wanted was a repeat of his team’s wretched display here in March, when they lost 4-0 and barely seemed bothered. He got the same scoreline and a performance that may well have been worse.
The visitors failed to sharpen up. Three minutes later Southampton could have been awarded a penalty when Long, again looking more lively than anyone in black and white, was knocked over by Krul. The referee decided the challenge was fair but, two minutes later with Newcastle still dozing, the hosts helped themselves to the opening goal. Following a routine throw-in move on the left, Ryan Bertrand was allowed to dash in-field and collect a through ball before placing a perfect cross on to the head of the unmarked Pellè. Given how comfortable the visiting defence had made him feel, it would have been rude for the Italian not to nod in his first goal since his summer move from Feyenoord. Newcastle were slovenly from the start and almost fell behind within 40 seconds. Fabricio Coloccini left a back pass short and Tim Krul’s rushed clearance was charged down by Shane Long before bouncing inches wide. The visitors did not sharpen up. Five minutes later, the hosts helped themselves to the opening goal.
There was little sign of spirit or cohesion from Newcastle, who were being outfought and outplayed by a team that appears to have retained all of last season’s form and vigour despite significant player turnover and the arrival of a new manager, Ronald Koeman. In the 19th minute Southampton increased their lead, helped again by sloppy Newcastle defending and a dollop of good fortune. After Mike Williamson misdirected a header, Pellè tried to score from long-range but his mishit shot turned into a defence-splitting pass to Dusan Tadic, who calmly played the ball back to the Italian to tap in a second goal. Following a routine throw-in move on the left, Ryan Bertrand was allowed to dash in-field and collect a through-ball before placing a perfect cross on to the head of the unmarked Graziano Pelle. Given how comfortable the visiting defence had made him feel, it would have been rude for the Italian not to nod into the net.
There was a flimsiness about Newcastle’s players, but fury among their fans. “We want Pardew out,” they bellowed. There was little trace of spirit or cohesion from Newcastle, who were being outfought and outplayed by a team that appears to have retained all of last season’s form and vigour despite significant player turnover and the arrival of a new manager, Ronald Koeman. In the 19th minute Southampton increased their lead, thanks to more Newcastle sloppiness and a dollop of good fortune. After Mike Williamson misdirected a header, Pelle tried to score from long-range but his mishit shot turned into a pass to Dusan Tadic, who played the ball back to the Italian to tap in a second goal.
Midway through the first period, Newcastle began to show signs of life, but Fraser Forster made fine saves to deny Moussa Sissoko and Jack Colback. The visitors then had a bout of possession but only in areas where their hosts permitted and no Newcastle player could summon the creativity to profit. Newcastle fans had a three-word answer to the problem too – “Hatem Ben Arfa,” they chanted in reference to the schemer who has been loaned to Hull after falling out with Pardew. Newcastle began to show signs of life, but Fraser Forster made fine saves to deny Moussa Sissoko and Jack Colback. The visitors then had a bout of possession but no one showed the creativity to profit. Newcastle’s fans had a three-word answer to that problem: “Hatem Ben Arfa,” they chanted in reference to the schemer who has been loaned to Hull after falling out with Pardew.
The arrival of Cheik Tioté for the second half at least gave the travelling fans some reason to cheer, as Newcastle seemed to have missed the Ivorian’s presence in central midfield since the start of the season. Yet Southampton mounted the first threat of the half, Tadic forcing a save from Krul from 20 yards. Southampton often seemed satisfied to sit deep but Newcastle’s slovenliness almost invited them forward. In the 54th minute the hosts scored a third and again greater appetite seemed key. Steven Davis slipped a ball behind the Newcastle defence and Jack Cork reached it before Williamson and Krul before rolling it into the empty net.
In the 54th minute the hosts scored a third and again their greater appetite and anticipation was the key. After a steady move upfield, Steven Davis slipped a ball behind the Newcastle defence and Cork reached it before Williamson and Krul and rolled it into the empty net. It became increasingly difficult to spot redeeming qualities in the visitors. At one point Rémy Cabella seemed to wonder if his team-mates had given up, as he carried the ball backwards under pressure from two opponents and could not find anyone on his own team in a position to accept a pass. The Frenchman’s exasperation was clear.
It became increasingly difficult to spot redeeming qualities in the visitors. At one point Rémy Cabella seemed to wonder if his team-mates had given up, as he carried the ball backwards under pressure from two opponents and could not find anyone on his own team in a position to accept a pass. The Frenchman’s exasperation was clear. A misjudgment by Foster in the 78th minute should have led to a Newcastle goal but it came as no surprise to see Colback and Emmanuel Rivière miscue from close range. A misjudgement by Foster in the 78th minute should have led to a Newcastle goals but Colback and Emmanuel Rivière miscued from close range.
Morgan Schneiderlin made it 4-0 in the last minute with a wonderful curling shot from the corner of the penalty area. In the last minute Southampton crafted a goal of beauty, swapping 38 passes before Morgan Schneiderlin curled a shot into the top corner.
Pardew accepted the chants of Newcastle fans had foundation. “They are fair because you can’t get beat 4-0 as Newcastle manager,” he said. “We just have to put ourselves on the line really and be brave. We have more quality than we showed today for sure. We need to get that on the pitch.”