Newcastle 4 Southampton 2:Le Tricolore-waving Newcastle United fans wore berets on their heads and strings of onions around their necks as the club's "France day" provided an atmospheric backdrop to a win Alan Pardew greeted with particular relish.
Sacked, amid some controversy, by Southampton in 2010, Newcastle’s manager punched the air with unusual vigour as his side’s goals flew in and revenge was ensured.
Along with victory came the reassurance of climbing comfortably clear of the relegation zone and forgetting the worries that had seemed all-consuming until five French imports arrived during last month’s transfer window.
If a Gallic theme that extended to Tannoy announcements being made in French will have pleased the 14 Francophones in the squad, locals revelled in the parochial pleasure involved in Newcastle’s leapfrog over Sunderland in the table.
Relaxed demeanour
The board said it gave no thought to sacking Pardew during the slump but, nonetheless, he has regained the relaxed demeanour of a manager secure in his job. “I went to a little French restaurant yesterday evening to get in the mood,” Pardew said.
“I suffered indigestion all night but never mind, a bit of fun with the theme day took the tension out of things. It was an important win. Southampton were excellent and we had to be at our best.”
With an ankle injury expected to sideline Tim Krul for six weeks, Rob Elliot made his Premier League debut in Newcastle’s goal.
His first touch saw him picking the ball out of the net following Jack Cork’s lofted cross, Rickie Lambert’s header down and Morgan Schneiderlin’s swivel and half-volley into the bottom corner.
An equaliser arrived when Yohan Cabaye intercepted Cork’s slapdash pass and provided Yoan Gouffran with a perfect delivery to speed on to.
Block with legs
Gouffran unleashed an angled shot which Artur Boruc could only block with his legs into the path of Moussa Sissoko (right), who tapped it home.
With Southampton’s much-vaunted pressing game falling apart, it seemed only a matter of time before Newcastle scored again but Papiss Cisse probably would not have dared to dream about celebrating a goal as good as the one he struck.
Meeting a bouncing ball on the half-volley 30 yards out, the striker sent a high-velocity shot soaring over Boruc before dipping under the bar.
Elliot had been underemployed but did brilliantly to tip Lambert’s curling free-kick to safety at the start of the second half.
Undeterred, Lambert swiftly scored his 100th goal for Southampton, manoeuvring himself cleverly into space before stroking a shot beyond Elliot.
Just as Geordies feared that Newcastle’s long flight back from their Europa League win in Ukraine in the early hours of Friday was exerting a toll, the hosts revived, stymying Southampton’s mini-renaissance.
When the substitute Danny Fox handled in the area, Foy awarded Newcastle a penalty. Cabaye beat Boruc from the spot and Pardew smiled again.
His grin was even broader when the unfortunate Fox intercepted Davide Santon’s cross only to blast it against the face of Jos Hooiveld who, unsurprisingly, deflected it into his own net.
