Saints 0, Newcastle 3

KIERON Dyer struck his first goals of the season to send last season's FA Cup finalists spiralling out.

Newcastle responded to a midweek ear-bashing by chairman Freddie Shepherd by cruising to victory after dominating the first half. Dyer put them in front when he struck following Aaron Hughes' 29th minute cross.

Laurent Robert added a left-foot piledriver before Dyer sealed an impressive win with a fine individual effort midway through the second half.

James Beattie was tightly shackled by Titus Bramble and never got a sniff of a chance as Southampton were strangely subdued. At the other end, Saints goalkeeper Antti Niemi was regularly under pressure.

Southampton manager Gordon Strachan was left baffled by his side's third consecutive defeat. Saints' next game is against Leicester on Wednesday and Strachan insisted it was up to the players to turn things around.

He said: "I don't know where to start. They were better, quicker and sharper and gave us problems. I know why it's come about but don't think it should be public knowledge.

"It's been a difficult 10 days, because we haven't looked like winning in these three games at any time.

"I'd like to think we'll sort it out with the players we've got now because the opportunity should be given to the players to rectify it."