NEWCASTLE UNITED v SOUTHAMPTON (16/01/2000)

Jo Tessem drives the ball forward.

They thought it couldn't get any worse after Aston Villa but it did - and how!

And to make matters worse the shame was captured live on television.  Anyone tuning in a few moments late got the shock of their lives to see Saints 2-0 down after just three minutes.

But at least the television sets had an off switch; the 450 faithful travelling fans had to sit and suffer and then face a long, trek home.

Few in the Saints section gave their team much hope with six key players missing against a rampant Newcastle side but this was worse than they feared.

In itself a heavy defeat at St James' Park is no cause for panic; after all Tottenham had gone down 6-1 in the FA Cup just a month earlier.

It was the manner of defeat and the fact it came on top of two dismal displays at Villa and Watford, which really set alarm bells ringing.

With just two minutes gone Nolberto Solano outstripped Patrick Colleter to cross for Alan Shearer.  His header came back off the bar for Duncan Ferguson who was left totally free to nod home.

A minute later and Solano's through-ball was diverted by Dean Richards' lunge into the path of Ferguson who drilled in low from 20 yards.

If there was panic in the Saints defence, it was mirrored in the press box as reporters frantically tried to discover the record for the fastest hat-trick.

The Magpies scented blood and with Southampton floundering belly up they mercilessly moved in for the kill.  Suddenly every home player wanted the ball and if a 5-0 final scoreline had been offered at that point, most of us would have gladly taken it.

Newcastle looked like scoring with every move forward.  After 16 minutes Alan Shearer unselfishly set up Kieron Dyer to crack home from the right of goal.

After 31 minutes Dyer broke clear again down the right and his low pull-back deflected in off the trailing Richard Dryden.

It could have been even worse as sharp-eyed referee Neale Barry spotted a shirt tug on Ferguson by Richards.  But Shearer cracked the penalty against the underside of the bar - one of four strikes against Saints woodwork.

Shearer claimed it had bounced over the line.  Television replays were inconclusive but in truth it hardly mattered.

Thankfully the home side took their foot off the gas after the break allowing Saints to recover a small scrap of self-respect and they were unlucky to concede a fifth seven minutes from time when a shot by Nikos Dabizas deflected in off Garry Monk. 

Originally Printed in 'The Saints Mag' The Official Magazine of Southampton Football Club, Issue 3 Volume 2
Date: March 2000