Saints the sinners as Magpies denied Champions League place

Southampton 3 Newcastle United 3

Their last hope of glory was extinguished by Southampton's French substitute Leandre Griffit who, seven minutes after replacing compatriot winger Fabrice Fernandes, struck the most meaningful blow in this roller-coaster contest.

Running on to a James Beattie flick he muscled past Olivier Bernard and slipped his shot beyond Shay Given to make it 3-2 for the battling Saints.

Even Ambrose's deflected late effort counted for nothing except Newcastle may get back in the UEFA Cup via fifth place with a win at Anfield on Saturday.

Bobby Robson, the 71-year-old Newcastle manager whose job has come under threat from his side's inconsistent season, crowned by a shattering UEFA Cup exit in the semi-finals, knew they had to win both their last two games at Southampton and Liverpool.Without the injured Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Jenas, Jonathan Woodgate and Andy O'Brien, he decided to gamble on bringing back Kieron Dyer after five games out with a hamstring injury. To be fair, Dyer played a prominent part, but Saints were also battered by injuries and had no choice but to make an open game of it.

Third-choice Saints keeper Alan Blayney became the first aunt sally in a coconut shy of shots. His first Premiership touch was to pick the ball out of the net after Shola Ameobi's seventh-minute opener for the Magpies. It was a route one special, with Ameobi heading a long ball up into the air and then chasing it down to the edge of the area where he shouldered aside Paul Telfer's weak challenge to crack a shot inside the young Irish keeper's near post.

Dyer should have made it two when shooting wide from Gary Speed's knock-down of a right-wing free-kick after Beattie had been booked for a crude foul. Instead Beattie slid home a 20th-minute equaliser for his 16th goal of the season after Shay Given could only palm out Anders Svensson's low drive. Poor defending allowed the slippery Swede the space for his shot.

Southampton were in disarray when Bowyer cracked his second goal in five days to regain Newcastle's lead from an Ameobi pass in the 36th minute.

The home fans already spitting blood over referee Graham Poll's rejection of a penalty appeal for Steve Caldwell's crunching challenge on Beattie could not understand why the Hertfordshire official would not allow the clearly indisposed Claus Lundekvam to be substituted during the build-up to the goal. There was an opportunity when the ball went out for a Newcastle throw which Bernard, admittedly, took fairly quickly.But the home mood lifted when Fernandes drilled in a low cross from the right two minutes later and the unfortunate Titus Bramble turned the ball into his own net.

Blayney covered himself in glory tipping over Alan Shearer's shot in brilliant style before knocking away Ameobi's well-struck effort. Steve Caldwell, who held the Newcastle defence together, headed against the bar when a Darren Ambrose free-kick floated over the keeper's head.

However, Saints were just as creative, Fernandes racing down the right only to leave his cross too late and allow Darren Ambrose to hack clear from under the bar.

Telfer's powerful shot was beaten out by Given and Beattie raised a consistent threat with his tireless running, even before the late appearance of regular strike-partner Kevin Phillips.

Although Newcastle were laying siege to the Saints goal in the end, there defence was always an accident waiting to happen much to Griffit's and Southampton's delight.

SOUTHAMPTON: Blayney, Telfer, Lundekvam (Kenton 36), Hall, Crainey, Fernandes (Griffit 81), Folly, Anders Svensson, Prutton, Beattie, Ormerod (Phillips 74).

NEWCASTLE: Given, Hughes, Bramble (Bridges 90), Caldwell, Bernard, Dyer (Robert 75), Bowyer, Ambrose, Speed, Shearer, Ameobi.

Ref: G Poll