Saints suffered a double blow at St James' Park with a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle being compounded by an injury worry over Antti Niemi.

The Saints keeper was stretchered off holding his right knee after just eight minutes following a collision with Shola Ameobi after he was fouled by Calum Davenport to give the Magpies a penalty.

Niemi was fit enough to take a place watching from the bench in the second half and Saints will hope there is no lasting damage.

His replacement Paul Smith made a fine first appearance for the club, producing a string of good saves, but couldn't keep out the penalty taken by Alan Shearer or Titus Bramble's finish on 38 minutes.

Peter Crouch pulled a goal back three minutes before half time but Saints couldn't find another goal to earn themselves a point and saw two good penalty appeals turned down.

There was also another minor scare with Kevin Phillips limping off with three minutes remaining with what appeared to be a muscle strain.

Newcastle 2 - 1 Saints

Other results in the south

Portsmouth 0 - 1 Blackburn

Bournemouth 1 - 1 Sheffield Wednesday

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