Newcastle 1 Southampton 0

SAINTS manager Gordon Strachan admitted his side did not deserve anything from their trip to Newcastle after a second successive 1-0 defeat.

The Scot was critical of the way his side started as it took more than half an hour for them to record a shot on target.

"I thought in the first half-hour, we played scared football, which I didn't like, and then we became a wee bit more brave on the ball and we did play little bits ourselves," he said.

"It was an opportunity missed as we come here to try to change our history because, if we want to change our history, we've got to come and win.

"In the last two weeks, we've been beaten 1-0 and 1-0. I didn't think it was a fair reflection last week but it was a fair reflection this week."

Against the club where his career began, Alan Shearer lifted a week of gloom on Tyneside by netting the 250th goal of a glittering career. It earned Newcastle a belated first league win of the season and another personal milestone.

With Laurent Robert banned and Nolberto Solano injured, Newcastle lacked width. But Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer, two midfielders happy in the centre but deployed on the wings, displayed the most attacking intent.

Dyer twice fired wide and Bowyer even had the ball in the net, though the whistle had gone before his rasping shot beat Antti Niemi.

Gary Speed also headed wide but the Southampton defence were shackling the Newcastle strikers well until Craig Bellamy appeared to foul Michael Svensson as he set up Shearer for an effort Niemi turned wide.

Shearer's second shot gave the recalled 'keeper no chance. Jermaine Jenas, with a perceptive pass, provided the assist as Shearer, who opened his league account with a hat-trick for Saints, brought up his 250th goal with a shot of unerring accuracy.

James Beattie, who would have relished that chance himself, worked hard but found it difficult to escape the attentions of the determined Andy O'Brien.

Shearer's former boot boy was restricted to half-chances, heading Fabrice Fernandes' cross over. And Southampton's longest trip of the Premiership season eventually proved a fruitless journey, though Paul Telfer, who hit the post last week, drew a fine save from Shay Given.

The 'keeper had an easier task to keep out Kevin Phillips' injury-time volley which was Saints' last chance for a point, but it could have been a heavier defeat for Strachan's side, still suffering from a hangover from their 3-1 win at Tottenham.