Southampton 1-2 Newcastle: Player ratings as Bruno Guimaraes completes Magpies comeback

From St Mary's Stadium - Two of Newcastle's January signings, Chris Wood and Bruno Guimaraes, both scored as the Magpies moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Southampton.

The home side began the game strongly and took a deserved lead through Stuart Armstrong but the Magpies soon equalised through Wood before Bruno grabbed an ingenious winner early in the second half which sent the travelling supporters into delirium.

After a drab opening 20 minutes the game sprung into life. After a period of sustained pressure in which Armando Broja fluffed a one-on-one, Saints broke the deadlock when Kyle Walker-Peters' deep cross was nodded across goal for Stuart Armstrong to head home via a kind deflection.

The visitors were only behind for seven minute though, with Chris Wood levelling things up with a header of his own. Jonjo Shelvey provided the cross and the New Zealand international arrived perfectly at the back post to bag his first ever Newcastle goal.

The remainder of the first half was similarly entertaining and Che Adams thought he had made it 2-1 before the break only to see his sweetly-struck volley cannon off the bar.

Saints were made to rue this missed chance minutes after the interval when Newcastle retook the lead. All six foot plus of Dan Burn climbed over the defence at the back post to nod a corner into the path of full-debutant Bruno, who guided a stunning flick past Fraser Forster.

Newcastle almost extended their lead from a near-identical set-piece routine soon after, but the hosts eventually weathered the storm.

13 minutes from time Martin Dubravka had to be alert to tip Tino Livramento's cross-cum-shot over the bar, and the dying stages the Magpies were handed a major let-off when the rebound from Mohammed Salisu's header somehow evaded the four Saints players prowling in the six-yard box.

Deep into second-half stoppage time, Armstrong then had a fierce effort in what was the final chance of the contest.

The victory extends Newcastle's unbeaten run to an impressive eight games, with relegation fears now firmly in the rear-view mirror.

Here are your player ratings for both sides.

Southampton player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Fraser Forster (GK) - 4/10 - Beaten twice and the Geordie will have wanted to do better for each of them.

Tino Livramento (RB) - 6/10 - Balanced his defensive and offensive responsibilities maturely for the most part. However, passing off Burn for the goal cannot be overlooked.

Mohammed Salisu (CB) - 5/10 - Some of his passing went astray and there were a few uncharacteristic defensive errors. Did not look particularly sharp after the injury layoff.

Jan Bednarek (CB) - 6/10 - Started strongly. Looked less comfortable when the game got stretched after the break and was rightly booked for a cynical challenge on Willock.

Kyle Walker-Peters (LB) - 7/10 - Great cross in the build-up to the opening goal. Saints needed to get the ball out to him more frequently.

2. Midfielders

Oriol Romeu (CM) - 6/10 - Provided Saints with a good base to start from in possession. Taken off late on as Hasenhuttl went for the equaliser.

James Ward-Prowse (CM) - 7/10 - Sprayed some terrific passes to make Saints tick. Not much more he could have done.

Stuart Armstrong (AM) - 6/10 - Scored a scrappy goal but they all count. Usually makes impeccable decisions in the final third, but did not always do so tonight.

Mohamed Elyounoussi (AM) - 6/10 - Rose well at the back post to create the opener. Picked up some lovely pockets of space but final ball was lacking.

3. Forwards

Che Adams (ST) - 7/10 - Hold-up play was great all night. So unlucky not to score with his fierce first-half volley.

Armando Broja (ST) - 3/10 - Really should have put his side ahead in the first half. Subbed after a frustrating second half.

4. Substitutes

Adam Armstrong (ST) - 6/10 - Immediately involved, bending an effort wide against his former club.

Shane Long (ST) - 6/10

Moussa Djenepo (LW) - N/A

Newcastle player ratings

5. Goalkeeper & defenders

Martin Dubravka (GK) - 6/10 - Not a huge amount to do until the end when he made a few important stops. Deceived by the deflection for the goal.

Emil Krafth (RB) - 5/10 - Walker-Peters had some joy in the early exchanges but nothing too disastrous. Offered little in possession but did not really need to.

Fabian Schar (CB) - 7/10 - Looked fairly assured. Hard to see Jamaal Lascelles replace him while he remains in this form.

Dan Burn (CB) - 7/10 - Set up Bruno's first Newcastle goal with a towering header. Mopped up long balls for fun.

Matt Targett (LB) - 7/10 - Caused a few issues defensively but his delivery from wide areas was dangerous. His corner lead to Bruno's goal.

6. Midfielders

Jonjo Shelvey (CM) - 6/10 - Sloppy in possession in the first half and should have been punished by Broja. Made up for that by assisting Wood with a top cross.

Joe Willock (CM) - 6/10 - Arrived late in the box on a few occasions and drove the Magpies forward in the second half. Could have made it harder for Ward-Prowse to play perhaps.

Bruno Guimaraes (CM) - 7/10 - Shook off some early rustiness and was increasingly difficult to dispossess as things wore on. Scored a fine goal and will no doubt grow into his role as Newcastle evolve over the seasons.

7. Forwards

Jacob Murphy (RW) - 3/10 - Caused issues by Walker-Peters and was booked for a rash challenge on the former Spurs man early on. Then allowed him too much space in the build-up to the opener. Disappointing.

Chris Wood (ST) - 7/10 - Finally off the mark for the Magpies with a trademark header. Pretty isolated other than that.

Ryan Fraser (LW) - 6/10 - Underwhelming to start with but grew into proceedings. Put in a hell of a defensive shift.

8. Substitutes

Sean Longstaff (CM) - 5/10 - Help Newcastle see out the victory.

Miguel Almiron (ST) - N/A

Javier Manquillo (RB) - N/A

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