Saint-Maximin magic gives Newcastle 1-0 win over 10-man Southampton

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:16 am

Newcastle United leapfrogged Southampton in the Premier League table and moved up to 13th with a 1-0 win at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday, thanks to a solo second-half effort from French winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

Southampton struggled to get a foothold in the game after they were reduced to 10 men when winger Moussa Djenepo made a reckless challenge to get sent off in the 28th minute.

Djenepo was initially booked when he caught Isaac Hayden above the ankle but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) advised referee Graham Scott to take a second look on the pitchside monitor, after which a red card was produced.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce told the BBC after the game: "The chances we had in the first half hour, then there is a triple save where the keeper makes three saves, when the penalty comes your way and you miss, you think 'aye aye' it's one of those afternoons. I think we deserved a chance, it was difficult with a team dropping deep -- it was hard going but I think we deserved it

"I do believe VAR was right, it's a blatant penalty and a red card as he is over the top of the ball. Thankfully Isaac's ankle isn't too bad but it's a sore one."

Allan Saint-Maximin celebrated in style after scoring the winner for Newcastle.
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Southampton were nearly undone just before half-time when Sofiane Boufal used his upper arm to clear the ball inside the box, awarding Newcastle their first penalty of the season, but Alex McCarthy dived to his left to stop Matt Ritchie's effort.

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With Southampton a man down, it was down to McCarthy to deny the Newcastle players on numerous occasions -- particularly Dwight Gayle who had three shots on target blocked -- and the goalkeeper finished the first half with six saves.

But McCarthy could do nothing when Saint-Maximin pressed Yan Valery, pinched the ball from his fellow Frenchman and then toe-poked the ball off the post for his second goal of the season to give Newcastle their first league win since January.