Newcastle show verve and nerve

WITH a performance mixing panache and guts, Newcastle maintained their chase of Manchester United by sweeping, and then struggling, past the team that had done so much to bring them back into the race. Robert Lee's goal leaves Southampton with plenty to worry about.

Kevin Keegan had promised he would hold no grudge against John Beresford after their public argument on Sunday, but the manager's forgiveness did not extend to putting the left back straight back in. He was on the bench, from where he watched his replacement Robbie Elliott. With Faustino Asprilla and Les Ferdinand overcoming minor injuries, Elliott was Newcastle's only starting change from Sunday's game.

After Southampton's spectacular victory against Manchester United, Dave Merrington understandably fielded the same team, especially in light of the fact that Southampton had won four of their previous five encounters with Newcastle since Kevin Keegan's team was promoted to the Premiership.

A packed St James's Park shivered anxiously in the fifth minute when Matthew Le Tissier found space 20 yards out, but his shot dribbled wide. After nine minutes, Newcastle's first significant attack eased many nerves.

A mighty leap and flick from Ferdinand took the ball to Asprilla, who quickly found Lee in his new role wide on the right. Lee shaped to cross, but then cut inside Simon Charlton and struck the ball low into Dave Beasant's right hand corner.

It was Lee's first goal since December and he nearly had a second in the 20th minute when he moved on to Elliott's centre, but this time Beasant saved well.

In a frenetic opening, that attack immediately succeeded a dangerous one from Southampton. Marvellous footwork and a deft pass from Le Tissier released Jim Magilton, and Shaka Hislop came to meet the Irishman only to stop halfway and turn back. Magilton crossed and Neil Shipperley headed, the ball hit the post, came back off David Batty and trundled agonisingly wide for a corner.

Then came a Beasant save from Lee. Yet Southampton were far from ruffled and Francis Benali had a wonderful opportunity to equalise on the half hour. Ken Monkou's header at a scrambled corner gave Benali a free volley 10 yards out, but the defender completely miscued..

Worse was to come for Benali. From Newcastle's next corner, his stomach high tackle tumbled Lee in the box... Referee Dermot Gallagher awarded the penalty. Although Peter Beardsley's strike was fierce, Beasant guessed right, dived right and parried the ball to safety.

The action was unrelenting and markedly different from the stress related football seen here four days ago last night of course, two teams were interested. As an old boy returning, Barry Venison delivered a vicious half volley after the restart and an unusual mistake by Philippe Albert.

Newcastle were still the dominant force but lacked their earlier cohesion. With 20 minutes left Asprilla made way for Lee Clark, with Beardsley moving up along side Ferdinand. But further inspiration just would not come and the lack of width, caused by Keith Gillespie's absence, continues to be a problem.

Clark manfully tried to barge his way through the middle and was almost successful, but Beasant managed to stick out a hand and collect. Ferdinand then had a better chance, but he too could not finish. Still, Newcastle had done enough.