There will be a minimum of three minutes of added time played here.
88'
Newcastle are seeing this out quite comfortably at the moment and Southampton, who have been lacklustre all game, are not threatening to pull one back at all.
86'
There is just a few minutes remaining here at St James' Park, can Newcastle make it 4-0 before the end of the game? Or, will Southampton be able to score a consolation goal late on?
83'
Mikel Merino enters the game and replaces J. Shelvey.
Newcastle make their third and final substitution of the game, with Jonjo Shelvey heading off the pitch and he has been replaced by Mikel Merino.
80'
Newcastle are comfortably seeing the game out now, Southampton are struggling to get a touch on the ball and their players really look short of confidence right now.
78'
C. Atsu enters the game and replaces Kenedy.
Kenedy heads off the pitch to a standing ovation by the St James' Park faithful, his replacement is Christian Atsu.
76'
Good effort! Sims with a decent curling effort from the edge of the area which forces Dubravka into making a save. The winger cut inside and fired a powerful effort at goal, making Dubravka produce his first real save of the game.
74'
STAT: Prior to today's game, Newcastle had scored just 12 Premier League home goals this season - no side netting fewer.
72'
Southampton are enjoying the majority of possession here but they are struggling to create anything in the attacking department, it is all very comfortable for Newcastle at the moment. The home fans are really enjoying this performance from their team, they have been superb this afternoon.
Minute
Description
69'
J. Stephens gets yellow.
Joselu enters the game and replaces D. Gayle.
The referee shows a yellow card to Jack Stephens for a push on Perez as he tried to stop Southampton from taking a free-kick. The Saints frustrations are starting to show.
Newcastle make their first substitution of the game, with Dwight Gayle replaced up top by Joselu.
66'
M. Gabbiadini enters the game and replaces G. Carrillo.
Southampton make their final change of the afternoon, with Guido Carrillo the man coming off and he has been replaced by Manolo Gabbiadini.
65'
Decent chance! Bertrand with a free header in the Newcastle box after a Saints corner. The skipper was unmarked and got his head to the ball, but he doesn't direct it well enough and it goes high over the Newcastle crossbar.
62'
If the scoreline remains the same this afternoon, it will see Newcastle move up to 13th position on 32 points, with a five point gap between themselves and 18th placed Crystal Palace. Meanwhile the Saints will just be one point above Palace, really in the thick of the relegation battle.
59'
It's going to be a long journey back for the traveling supporters, they have witnessed a very poor performance from their side this afternoon. Despite the changes at the break, the Saints haven't really threatened and the home side look well in control.
57'
M. Ritchie has scored a goal for Newcastle United! Assist by J. Shelvey.
GOOOAAALLL! NEWCASTLE MAKE IT THREE! Ritchie places his shot to perfection, straight into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. It was great play by Shelvey who created the goal, working the space and laying it off to Ritchie who produced a superb finish to make it 3-0.
No Saints players got close enough to Shelvey, giving him far too much time and space to dribble into and then pick out Ritchie with a simple pass. The midfielder has been involved in everything good Newcastle have produced this afternoon.
54'
STAT: Rafael Benitez won his first Premier League game against Southampton in 2004 but is winless in five subsequent top-flight encounters with Saints (D2, L3).
52'
CLOSE! Perez with a terrific chance to make it 3-0 to Newcastle! The attacking midfielder who unmarked at a corner, he got good contact on the ball, looking to loop it into the far corner over McCarthy. However, there is just too much on the ball and it lands on top of the net.
50'
It looks like Southampton are now playing in a 4-4-2 formation, with Long playing up top with Carrillo who has desperately needed support, as he has cut a very isolated figure so far in this game. However, it is still Newcastle who are the team on top, playing with more pace and intent.
48'
W. Hoedt gets yellow.
Wesley Hoedt has been shown the first yellow card of the game for a poor challenge on Perez.
46'
S. Long enters the game and replaces D. Tadić.
J. Sims enters the game and replaces M. Lemina.
The second half is underway!
Southampton have made a double substitution ahead of the second half, with Dušan Tadić being replaced by Shane Long.
The change has seen Mario Lemina be replaced by Joshua Sims.
45' +1
That's the half-time whistle!
45'
There will be a minimum of one minute added time played here.
42'
STAT: The two managers know eachother very well, as Mauricio Pellegrino was a player under Rafael Benitez at both Valencia and Liverpool, with the pair winning La Liga twice and the Uefa Cup with the Spanish club.
39'
Not long to go here until half-time, Newcastle are in complete control of the game and Southampton look short of ideas and confidence at the moment in all departments of the pitch.
37'
A game has slipped into a bit of a lull now, with neither side really looking dangerous in attack. Newcastle are quite happy for the Saints to have the ball in their own half and the middle of the pitch.
35'
STAT: Southampton have won just once in their last 16 league games, drawing nine and losing six. Furthermore, they have won just twice away from home in the league all season.
32'
Southampton have it all to do now, there doesn't seem to be much confidence in the Saints players, with simple passes going wrong all over the pitch. Pellegrino may need to make some changes here.
29'
Kenedy has scored a goal for Newcastle United! Assist by D. Gayle.
It was very unselfish from Gayle, he picks out Kenedy at the far post and the Brazilian has a tap in for his second of the afternoon.
GOOOAAALLL! NEWCASTLE DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! It all came from a Saints corner, with Lemina slipping on the edge of the Newcastle box and it allows the home side to counter superbly up the pitch. Perez sprints forward, gets to the penalty area and he lays it off to Gayle who spots Kenedy completely unmarked at the far post and instead of going to goal himself, he plays it to his teammate who has the simply job of putting the ball into the back of the net from just a few yards out.
25'
NEWCASTLE CHANCE! Gayle with a huge opportunity to double the Magpies lead! Sloppy defending by Saints, with Diame easily winning the ball back from Lemina deep in his own half. Gayle then races through and fires a low shot at goal, but McCarthy managed to close the angle by coming off his line and he made a good save.
24'
Head-to-head: The Saints have only failed to score in one of their last 19 Premier League games against Newcastle, netting in each of the last 12.
22'
Carrillo isn't having much joy up front for Southampton so far today, the striker looks very isolated and is struggling to link-up with his teammates, who are too far away. Any long balls up top are very comfortable for the Newcastle centre-backs, not giving the Argentine striker a chance.
20'
Southampton look dangerous down the left-flank, with Bertrand and Redmond starting to cause problems with their pace. However despite this, the Saints are still yet to trouble Dubravka in the Newcastle goal who has barely touched the ball so far.
17'
Penalty shout! Ritchie runs at the Saints defence, dodges a tackle and then tries to whip a cross into the box, but his ball is blocked by Stephens and the Newcastle winger appeals for a penalty. However, he is the only player appealing for handball and the referee waves away his protests.
15'
Perez picks the ball up in his own half, sprints up the pitch and gets all the way to the penalty area after a lack of pressure from Saints defenders. The Newcastle man then tries to go for goal himself with an ambitious chipped effort, however he doesn't get enough power behind it and McCarthy makes a comfortable save.
14'
STAT: Newcastle are on a run of five matches unbeaten at home in all competitions (W2, D3), having lost their previous five at St James' Park.
11'
Southampton are keeping the ball well inside the Newcastle half, however they are struggling to get anywhere near the final third and cause any attacking problems. After a frantic few opening minutes, the pace of the game has certainly dropped now.
9'
Southampton are finally starting to get the ball down themselves and enjoy possession of the ball after a dominant opening five minutes from Newcastle. However, they are struggling to get going and it is all very comfortable for the hosts at the moment.
7'
STAT: Newcastle are on a run of seven games without a victory over Southampton in the Premier League. Their last win against the Saints was at St James' Park in 2013, when they triumphed 4-2.
5'
ALMOST ANOTHER! This time Gayle has the chance to score. It came from another long ball which split the Saints defence, he raced through with just the keeper to beat, but his touch is too heavy and it allows McCarthy to rush out of his goal and gather the ball, just before Gayle can get a touch on it. Poor defending by Southampton so far, they don't look comfortable at all.
2'
Kenedy has scored a goal for Newcastle United! Assist by J. Shelvey.
Shelvey looked up and spotted an excellent run from Kenedy, the ball came forward and the Chelsea loanee showed great skill to take the ball down and finish superbly.
GOOOAAALLL! WHAT A START! Newcastle take an early lead here, Kenedy handing the home side a huge advantage and the Newcastle faithful are in raptures! Shelvey plays a high ball over the top of the Saints defence to Kenedy, he chests it down, turns and then places the ball in the bottom corner, with McCarthy helpless to save it.
1'
We're underway!
Good afternoon and welcome to our LIVE match commentary of the Premier League clash between Newcastle United and Southampton at St James' Park.
Newcastle and Southampton face eachother in a huge relegation scrap this afternoon. Rafael Benitez's side start the weekend in 16th, just one place and a single point above their opponents and know that victory would be massive at this stage of the season.
Southampton sit 17th, just one point ahead of Crystal Palace in the final relegation place. However, either team could potentially move up to 13th in the table with a victory and other results going their way.
Last time out, the Magpies suffered a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield, whilst the Saints drew 0-0 with Stoke at St Mary's.
Newcastle will make a late decision on the fitness of midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who missed last weekend's defeat with a knee problem. However, Islam Slimani, Rob Elliot and Jesus Gamez are ruled out due to injury. Southampton will still be without their captain Steven Davis, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring problem.
The team news is in, here is how the two sides will line-up this afternoon...
SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Alex McCarthy (GK); Cedric Soares, Jack Stephens, Wesley Hoedt, Ryan Bertrand (C); Mario Lemina, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg; James Ward-Prowse, Dusan Tadic, Nathan Redmond; Guido Carrillo
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Karl Darlow, Ciaran Clark, Daryl Murphy, Javier Manquillo, Joselu, Mikel Merino, Christian Atsu.
NEWCASTLE (4-4-1-1): Martin Dubravka (GK); DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles (C), Florian Lejeune, Paul Dummett; Matt Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey, Mo Diame, Kenedy; Ayoze Perez; Dwight Gayle
TEAM NEWS: Rafael Benitez makes three changes to the Newcastle side that lost 2-0 to Liverpool, with Shelvey, Perez and Ritchie replacing Merino, Atsu and Murphy. Meanwhile for Saints, they make two changes with Ward-Prowse and Hojbjerg replacing Sims and Romeu, who both drop down to the bench.
The teams are out here at St James' Park and kick-off is just minutes away! Stay tuned for all of the match action.
HALF-TIME: NEWCASTLE 2-0 SOUTHAMPTON
It has been a very good half of football for Newcastle who lead thanks to two goals from Kenedy. They got off to a terrific start, going ahead ahead after just two minutes and then doubled their lead shortly after. It has been a poor half by Southampton, who have it all to do if they are to get anything out of this game.
FULL-TIME: NEWCASTLE 3-0 SOUTHAMPTON
That's all from us today folks, we hope you enjoyed the game!
Newcastle move up to 13th after a first-half double from Kenedy and a second-half strike from Ritchie secured all three points for Rafael Benitez's side, who move five points clear of the drop zone. Southampton remain 17th and are really in a relegation battle.
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