By Sam Cunningham,
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Nigel Adkins insisted he has a good relationship with Southampton executive chairman Nicola Cortese after a second consecutive win eased mounting pressure on his job.
Just nine days ago the Saints manager was in trouble with his side second-from-bottom and facing an already crucial fixture against bottom QPR that was branded 'El-Sackico'.
Three weeks ago Adkins held crunch talks about his future with Cortese who was furious with their start to the season.
Going ahead: Adam Lallana celebrates putting Southampton 1-0 up
MATCH FACTS:
Southampton: Gazzaniga, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw (Hooiveld 90), Puncheon, Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Ramirez (Steven Davis 78), Lambert (Rodriguez 76).
Subs Not Used: Kelvin Davis, Do Prado, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka.
Booked: Fonte, Ramirez.
Goals: Lallana 34, Ramirez 60.
Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor (Perch 90), Williamson, Santon, Anita (Marveaux 66), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ferguson (Sammy Ameobi 46), Ba, Cisse.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Bigirimana, Ranger, Tavernier.
Booked: Williamson, Tiote.
Attendance: 31,410
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Swindon Town manager Paulo Di Canio was lined up to take over the job and today Roberto Di Matteo was the latest name to be thrown into the hat following his sacking by Chelsea last week.
But Adkins's side beat QPR last weekend – and Mark Hughes instead got the chop – and this afternoon he made it back-to-back wins with a resounding victory against Newcastle.
The 47-year-old said: 'We've got a good relationship and that's the important thing. There's always been stability here which is important. [Cortese and I] talk regularly.
'We want the same thing, we've got a hunger, we share the same ambition of driving this football club forward. You have to be demanding and supportive at the right times.'
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is all too aware of the volatile Cortese. He was sacked by the Swiss-Italian two years ago, three games into his second full season in charge when he had just lead them to a Johnstone's Paint Trophy win and agonisingly close to the playoffs despite a 10-point deduction from the start of the season.
In it goes: Lallana (right) scores after a pass from team-mate Gaston Ramirez
Opening up: Lallana is congratulated by team-mates
Comfortable: Gaston Ramirez twists and turns away from Steven Taylor
Adkins said before the game he owed Pardew nothing for the squad he inherited from the Newcastle boss before taking over the club and leading them to back-to-back promotions. He certainly did him no favours – and they could have won by five or six.
Adam Lallana put Southampton ahead in the first half when his team took advantage of a mistake from Newcastle's Tim Krul.
On 34 minutes the goalkeeper ran from his area to clear a long pass but hit the ball straight to right-back Nathaniel Clyne, who turned down the chance to join Newcastle in the summer to join Saints.
He controlled the ball with his chest and hit a shot towards the open goal – former Saint Mike Williamson headed the ball out but straight to Gaston Ramirez who passed the ball past Krul and Lallana finished from close range.
On the hour mark Ramirez turned goalscorer to make it 2-0. More superb work from Lallana, who produced a back-heel flick inside the area, set Jason Puncheon down the left and his powerful low cross was only parried out by Krul leaving the Uruguayan to slide the ball in from close range again.
Tough tackle: Demba Ba is challenged by Lallana
It should have been more – the home side hit the woodwork three times in total. Ramirez drew a decent stop from Krul from a left-footed free kick 25-yards out on the right on 25 minutes.
But eight minutes later Rickie Lambert had a go from an almost identical position, this time with his right boot, that struck the top of the crossbar above the top right corner.
In the second half with Southampton attempting to secure the win Puncheon struck the bottom of the left post – played through again by Lallana who dissected Newcastle's defence with pass after pass – with a powerful first-time shot from a tight angle on the left.
And again, nine minutes before the end of the 90, Puncheon's deep corner from the right was headed towards goal and past Krul by centre-back Jose Fonte but it hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out.
As good as Southampton were going forward, they finally managed to get their first clean sheet this season in 15 matches in all competitions. Ahead of the match they were the only team in the Premier League not to keep a clean sheet.
It was 20-year-old goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga who kept his side comfortably ahead. He looked nervous in the first half but pulled off the save of the match in the second.
That should do it: Ramirez (centre) celebrates making it 2-0
On the deck: Jason Puncheon leaves Davide Santon in his wake
Fondness: Alan Pardew gave a thumbs up to fans of his former club
On 73 minutes right-back Danny Simpson crossed to David Santon on the other flank and his header was dipping into the bottom left corner but the Argentine goalkeeper flung himself back towards goal to clutch the ball out.
Pardew's Newcastle lost three games in a row for the first time since September 2008 and he admitted he is concerned with their form.
He blamed the injuries to 11 senior players ahead of the match and defender Steven Taylor went off with a hamstring injury and is likely to be added to that list.
The 51-year-old said: 'We're worried, of course we're worried, because we're Newcastle United. We have only really got that dressing room to take to Wednesday night [against Stoke].
'We haven't got four or five players to add to that group – that is our group. They've been resoundingly beaten and we've got another three days of trying to lift the team.
'The main problem is the Europa League and a run of injuries that is unprecedented for us. Last year we didn't have too many problems with injuries.
'We were fortunate and it was one of the reasons we finished fifth. We've had nothing but set backs.'
Flying save: Tim Krul makes a good stop but was unable to help Newcastle to a share of the points
Relief: Nigel Adkins has seen Southampton take six points from the last two games
Well one Saints, good win, from a Baggies fan.
- Marc , W Midlands, United Kingdom, 25/11/2012 18:46
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