The six-pointer against Southampton couldn't come at a better time for Newcastle fans. But hey! We don't have a very good record against them in recent years.
We haven't beaten them in our last SEVEN meetings, not since the 4-2 win in 2013 when Mike Ashley proclaimed it was "French Day" and wanted us to dress up accordingly.
NEWCASTLE 4 SOUTHAMPTON 2
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Elliot; Debuchy, Taylor, Coloccini (Yanga-Mbiwa 44), Santon; Cabaye (Perch 77), Tiote; Gouffran (Anita 88), Sissoko, Jonas; Cisse.
Subs not used: Alnwick, Marveaux, Ameobi, Obertan.
Southampton (4-2-3-1): Boruc; Clyne, Yoshida, Hooveld, Shaw (Fox 57); Schneiderlin, Cork; Rodriquez (Puncheon 81), Davis (Gaston 65), Lallana; Lambert.
Subs not used: Davis, Fonte, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka.
It was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggests but Newcastle United moved six points clear of the relegation zone with a victory over Southampton.
The match – dubbed French day by the club’s marketing men in honour of the 10 French players in Newcastle's squad - did not get off to the start the home side wanted for more reasons than one.
There were not enough fans in their seats to hold up their blue, white and red cards designed to turn one of the stands into a giant French flag for it to work properly, and the home side also fell behind inside the first five minutes.
Southampton’s fluid formation up front caused Newcastle’s defenders early problems and when Rickie Lambert headed down Jack Cork’s cross, Morgan Schneiderlin was able to turn Steven Taylor and smash the ball home.
The marketing men may well have comforted themselves with the fact Schneiderlein is French, but it was a terrible start for Alan Pardew’s men.
Southampton tried to hold on to the lead, sinking deeper into their own half, allowing Newcastle’s midfield, and in particularly playmaker Yohan Cabaye, to push higher up the pitch in support of Papiss Demba Cisse.
Cisse should have scored when he collected Yoan Gouffran’s pass six yards out but a poor first touch was followed by a horrible second when he sliced wide.
Newcastle were level after 33 minutes, Gouffran sent down the left flank by Cabaye’s pass, before a low shot deflected off goalkeeper Artur Boruc and straight to Moussa Sissoko who side-footed in the equaliser.
Southampton tried to come back out of their shell, but were then punished by an incredible strike from Cisse who, 30 yards out, let the ball bounce once before volleying it past Boruc via the underside of the crossbar.
Newcastle looked to have everything under control but Southampton came back at the again, Rob Elliot, in for the injured Tim Krul, making a leaping save to keep out a Lambert free-kick.
It was a warning Newcastle failed to heed, as some poor marking again by Taylor allowed Lambert to nip in front of him and turn in Adam Lallana’s cross to the near post.
The same players combined again moments later, but this time Lambert’s header drifted wide and Newcastle slowly imposed themselves again after that.
They re-took the lead after a sustained period of pressure when substitute Danny Fox handled in the area and Cabaye converted from the spot.
Southampton were still in the game, but they lost hope with just over 10 minutes left to play when Davide Santon cut back a cross from the byline and the hapless Fox hit his clearance against Jos Hooivold and the ball ricocheted in for Newcastle’s fourth.
2017/2018 Sun 15 Oct Southampton 2 - 2 Newcastle United League
2015/2016 Sat 09 Apr Southampton 3 - 1 Newcastle United League
Sun 09 Aug Newcastle United 2 - 2 Southampton League
2014/2015 Sat 17 Jan Newcastle United 1 - 2 Southampton League
Sat 13 Sep Southampton 4 - 0 Newcastle United League
2013/2014 Sat 29 Mar Southampton 4 - 0 Newcastle United League
Sat 14 Dec Newcastle United 1 - 1 Southampton League
2012/2013 Sun 24 Feb Newcastle United 4 - 2 Southampton League
Sun 25 Nov Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle United League
2005/2006 Sat 18 Feb Newcastle United 1 - 0 Southampton F.A. Cup
2004/2005 Sat 15 Jan Newcastle United 2 - 1 Southampton League
Sun 19 Sep Southampton 1 - 2 Newcastle United League
2003/2004 Wed 12 May Southampton 3 - 3 Newcastle United League
Sat 03 Jan Southampton 0 - 3 Newcastle United F.A. Cup
Sat 04 Oct Newcastle United 1 - 0 Southampton League
2002/2003 Sat 14 Dec Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle United League
Sat 16 Nov Newcastle United 2 - 1 Southampton League
2001/2002 Sat 11 May Southampton 3 - 1 Newcastle United League
Sat 09 Feb Newcastle United 3 - 1 Southampton League
2000/2001 Tue 01 May Newcastle United 1 - 1 Southampton League
Sat 16 Sep Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle United League
1999/2000 Sun 16 Jan Newcastle United 5 - 0 Southampton League
Sun 15 Aug Southampton 4 - 2 Newcastle United League
1998/1999 Sat 20 Feb Southampton 2 - 1 Newcastle United League
Sat 12 Sep Newcastle United 4 - 0 Southampton League
1997/1998 Sat 28 Mar Southampton 2 - 1 Newcastle United League
Sat 22 Nov Newcastle United 2 - 1 Southampton League
1996/1997 Sat 01 Mar Newcastle United 0 - 1 Southampton League
Sat 18 Jan Southampton 2 - 2 Newcastle United League
1995/1996 Wed 17 Apr Newcastle United 1 - 0 Southampton League
Sat 09 Sep Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle United League
1994/1995 Wed 22 Mar Southampton 3 - 1 Newcastle United League
Sat 27 Aug Newcastle United 5 - 1 Southampton League
1993/1994 Sat 22 Jan Newcastle United 1 - 2 Southampton League
Sun 24 Oct Southampton 2 - 1 Newcastle United League
1988/1989 Sat 01 Apr Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle United League
Sat 17 Dec Newcastle United 3 - 3 Southampton League
1987/1988 Tue 01 Mar Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle United League
Sat 26 Sep Newcastle United 2 - 1 Southampton League
1986/1987 Sat 28 Mar Newcastle United 2 - 0 Southampton League
Sat 04 Oct Southampton 4 - 1 Newcastle United League
1985/1986 Sat 14 Dec Newcastle United 2 - 1 Southampton League
Sat 17 Aug Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle United League
1984/1985 Sat 27 Apr Newcastle United 2 - 1 Southampton League
Sat 24 Nov Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle United League
1973/1974 Tue 05 Feb Southampton 3 - 1 Newcastle United League
Wed 29 Aug Newcastle United 0 - 1 Southampton League
1972/1973 Sat 14 Apr Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle United League
Sat 09 Dec Newcastle United 0 - 0 Southampton League
1971/1972 Sat 26 Feb Southampton 1 - 2 Newcastle United League
Sat 06 Nov Newcastle United 3 - 1 Southampton League
1970/1971 Sat 20 Mar Newcastle United 2 - 2 Southampton League
Sat 07 Nov Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle United League
1969/1970 Wed 11 Feb Newcastle United 2 - 1 Southampton League
Sat 20 Sep Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle United League
1968/1969 Sat 15 Feb Southampton 0 - 0 Newcastle United League
Sat 30 Nov Newcastle United 4 - 1 Southampton League
1967/1968 Sat 16 Dec Southampton 0 - 0 Newcastle United League
Sat 19 Aug Newcastle United 3 - 0 Southampton League
1966/1967 Sat 29 Apr Newcastle United 3 - 1 Southampton League
Sat 03 Dec Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle United League
1964/1965 Sat 19 Dec Southampton 0 - 1 Newcastle United League
Sat 29 Aug Newcastle United 2 - 1 Southampton League
1963/1964 Wed 18 Sep Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle United League
Wed 11 Sep Newcastle United 2 - 2 Southampton League
1962/1963 Sat 06 Apr Newcastle United 4 - 1 Southampton League
Sat 17 Nov Southampton 3 - 0 Newcastle United League
1961/1962 Sat 10 Feb Newcastle United 3 - 2 Southampton League
Sat 23 Sep Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle United League
1947/1948 Sat 13 Mar Southampton 4 - 2 Newcastle United League
Sat 25 Oct Newcastle United 5 - 0 Southampton League
1946/1947 Sat 15 Feb Newcastle United 1 - 3 Southampton League
Sat 12 Oct Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle United League
1938/1939 Sat 28 Jan Southampton 0 - 0 Newcastle United League
Sat 24 Sep Newcastle United 1 - 0 Southampton League
1937/1938 Sat 19 Mar Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle United League
Sat 06 Nov Newcastle United 3 - 0 Southampton League
1935/1936 Sat 01 Aug Southampton 1 - 3 Newcastle United League
1936/1937 Sat 01 Aug Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle United League
1934/1935 Sat 01 Aug Newcastle United 1 - 0 Southampton League
Sat 01 Aug Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle United League
1936/1937 Sat 01 Aug Newcastle United 3 - 0 Southampton League
1935/1936 Sat 01 Aug Newcastle United 4 - 1 Southampton League