Newcastle 3-2 Southampton: Player ratings as nine-man Magpies hold on for vital win

Newcastle recorded their first home victory in nearly two months with a 3-2 win over Southampton on Saturday, earned in the end with just nine men after Jeff Hendrick's sending off and Fabian Schar's late injury.

A frantic start saw both teams threaten to open the scoring early on, but it was the home side who eventually took the lead thanks to debutant Joe Willock, with the Arsenal loanee arriving late into the box before producing a neat finish to slot home Allan Saint-Maximin's pull back.

Steve Bruce's side doubled their lead midway through the first half when Jan Bednarek capped off a footballing week from hell as he inadvertently diverted Miguel Almiron's shot past Alex McCarthy, though Takumi Minamino's fine finish halved the deficit just minutes later.

Southampton began to grow into the game following Minamino's goal, though they shot themselves in the foot on the stroke of half-time, with McCarthy's sloppy distribution gifting a late chance to Almiron - a chance he dispatched in style.

With Newcastle in the driving seat, the game looked to have taken a dramatic twist shortly after half-time. Firstly, James Ward-Prowse's superb free-kick yet again reduced Newcastle's lead to one, before Hendrick was dismissed after he received a second yellow card for pulling the shirt of Minamino.

The Saints threw everything they had at Newcastle - with the home side ending the game with nine men after Schar limped off after Bruce had used all three substitutes - though Danny Ings' effort which crashed off the post was as close as they came.

And breathe. That's the match highlights over with, now to those player ratings.

NEWCASTLE

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Karl Darlow (GK) - 5/10 - Caught out at his front post for Minamino's goal, though in fairness it was a great strike. Produced a couple of solid saves but looked shaky coming off his line.

Javier Manquillo (RB) - 6/10 - Newcastle need Manquillo to produce consistently solid performances with DeAndre Yedlin gone, but it's hard to do that when you limp off after 24 minutes.

Fabian Schar (CB) - 6/10 - Struggled to cope with the movement of the Saints forwards but continued to throw himself about and won everything in the air.

Isaac Hayden (CB) - 7/10 - Yet again asked to fill in at the back for the Magpies amid their defensive crisis. Used his midfield nous to step forward and distribute to his teammates. Looked solid throughout.

Jamal Lewis (LWB) - 7/10 - Was a big part of Newcastle's attempts to play further up the field. Supported the attack well and showed great energy to be able to fulfil his defensive duties.

2. Midfielders

Jonjo Shelvey (CM) - 7/10 - Did a great job of keeping things ticking over in midfield and looked to push his side further up the pitch whenever the chance presented itself.

Joe Willock (CM) - 8/10 - Superb debut for the on loan Arsenal man. Added energy and drive to the Newcastle midfield and grabbed himself a goal after arriving late into the box as he looked to aid the attack.

Jeff Hendrick (CM) - 5/10 - Industrious performance that was spoilt as he received a needless second yellow card early in the second half.

3. Forwards

Allan Saint-Maximin (RW) - 7/10 - How Newcastle have missed this man. Constantly looked to make things happen and didn't allow the Southampton defence any time to settle.

Callum Wilson (ST) - 6/10 - Used his pace to good effect as he stretched the Saints backline, but hobbled off injured before half-time.

Miguel Almiron (LW) - 8/10 - Continued his fine form of recent weeks. Didn't stop working for the team and took his chance brilliantly. Has come in for some criticism this season but he's bounced back brilliantly.

4. Substitutes

Emil Krafth (RB) - 6/10 - Brought on earlier than he'd have anticipated and was exposed on occasion in the first half. Defended resolutely after the break.

Joelinton (RW) - 5/10

Paul Dummett (CB) - 6/10

SOUTHAMPTON

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Alex McCarthy (GK) - 4/10 - Fresh off the back of conceding nine in midweek, the Saints goalkeeper had a bit of a horror show, with his poor pass gifting Newcastle their third on the afternoon.

Jack Stephens (RB) - 5/10 - Lost possession on a number of occasions and was terrorised by the movement of Wilson early on,

Jan Bednarek (CB) - 3/10 - If you were to write the worst possible week a professional footballer could endure - it would be this man's week. Inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net for the Newcastle second.

Jannik Vestergaard (CB) - 5/10 - Didn't look as assured as he has done at times this season - though that's to be expected after seven games out. Distributed the ball well but always looked slightly off the pace of the game.

Ryan Bertrand (LB) - 6/10 - A constant outlet on the Southampton left. A display full of energy but struggled to produce in the final third.

6. Midfielders

Nathan Redmond (RM) - 6/10 - Given his chance to stake a claim in the Saints starting XI. Looked lively whenever he was in possession but lacked that final ball. Given an extended run in the team he could flourish.

James Ward-Prowse (CM) - 6/10 - Vintage free kick from the midfield man. Struggled to influence the game aside from his magnificent strike, but we can't mark him down after a moment of magic like that.

Oriol Romeu (CM) - 5/10 - Looked rusty in just his second Premier League outing of the calendar year. Recycled possession well but not the imperious display we've become used to.

Takumi Minamino (LM) - 7/10 - Very impressive debut from the Liverpool man. Took his goal superbly and showed a willingness to take the ball and make things happen.

7. Forwards

Danny Ings (ST) - 5/10 - Struck the post in the second half when you'd have put your mortgage on him finding the back of the net. Continued to work the Newcastle backline but it just wasn't his day.

Che Adams (ST) - 5/10 - Very much the same as his strike partner. Had a goal chalked off for offside but otherwise didn't get much change out of the Newcastle defence.

8. Substitutes

Dan N'Lundulu (ST) - 6/10