Elia double leaves Carver's Newcastle defeated

JOHN CARVER’S hopes of landing the Newcastle United job on a full-time basis took another blow as Southampton left St James’ Park with three points.

A double from Dutch winger Eljero Elia, a goal in each half, proved enough to defeat the Magpies and leave Carver still searching for his first win as caretaker boss.

Newcastle could have had an injury-time penalty when Jose Fonte blocked Emmanuel Riviere’s shot with his arm, but the Saints held on and returned south with a victory which lifted them back up to third.

The Magpies, who are now just a place above Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace following their win at Burnley, had cancelled out Elia’s opener when Yoan Gouffran grabbed a fortuitous goal just before the break.

Elia, who moved on loan from Werder Bremen this month, made the most of some hesitancy in the home defence to find the net in the 14th and 62nd minutes.

Manchester United’s win at Queens Park Rangers earlier in the day meant Southampton needed a positive result to reclaim third and being without Morgan Schneiderlin, Toby Alderweireld and Victor Wanyama, among others, offered Newcastle encouragement.

Newcastle, who only made one change to the side which lost to Chelsea a week ago, started brightly and pressed. But Southampton scored with their first attack.

Fonte’s hopeful long ball was chested down by striker Graziano Pelle. The onrushing James Ward-Prowse rolled a pass behind the defence for Elia to run on to and fire a finish low beyond Tim Krul.

The Dutch keeper should really have prevented the opener, while Daryl Janmaat was also caught out. Newcastle stuttered for a bit after that but good fortune earned them an equaliser.

When Cabella slotted a hopeful pass behind the Southampton defence, Fraser Forster ran to gather. But Florin Gardos made the mistake of his sliding clearance hitting Gouffran and dropping in to the empty net.

There were very few clear cut chances and after Gouffran had glanced a header wide from Massadio Haidara’s cross at one end, Southampton attacked and found the net at the other – it turned out to be the winner.

A routine clearance forward was flicked on by Pelle. Janmaat allowed Elia to nip in again, gain control and shoot beyond Krul. Pelle also headed against the bar and Newcastle wasted a couple of chances before the late penalty shout was waved away.

NEWCASTLE: Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini, Dummett (Williamson 80), Haidara; Sissoko, Anita (Riviere 68), Colback; Cabella, Perez, Gouffran (Ameobi 68). Subs: Woodman (gk), Santon, Abeid, Armstrong.

SOUTHAMPTON: Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Bertrand; Reed, S Davis; Ward-Prowse (Cork 60), Tadić (Long 60), Elia (Targett 82); Pellè. Subs: K Davis (gk), Isgrove, McCarthy, Hesketh.