Newcastle draw on new optimism

NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 SOUTHAMPTON 2:

Fans consigned last season’s problems to history, with 50,000 witnessing McClaren’s return to the Premier League after a nine-year absence. Players who struggled last season have been lifted by the new regime, but they were unable to kick-off their campaign with a victory against a Southampton side that finished seventh last season and was once again mobile and well-drilled.

The Saints, whose manager, Ronald Koeman, missed the match, following surgery on an Achilles tendon injury, led through a 25th-minute header from Graziano Pelle, but Newcastle levelled just before the interval, when Papiss Cisse chested in from close range.