Paul Jones might have let in three goals at St James' Park on Saturday.

But the Welsh international warmed up for his country's clash against Argentina on Wednesday by producing two world class saves to deny Laurent Robert and Nolberto Solano - and he stopped Wales teammate Craig Bellamy from scoring.

Jones had little chance with any of the goals. Robert's 35-yard free-kick, awarded for a Paul Williams foul on Gary Speed, was as unstoppable as Fabrice Fernandes' strike against West Ham two weeks ago.

Claus Lundekvam took the blame after Alan Shearer rose above the Norwegian before heading inside Jones's near post for Newcastle's second.

And Shearer sent the former Stockport keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot for the final goal in first-half injury time.

But Jones will be preparing to face Gabriel Batistuta and company with happier memories - those two stops in either half for starters.

Robert seemed to have scored his second within 90 seconds of his Exocet of a free-kick. But Jones proved the Frenchman's equal, flinging himself full stretch to his left when the £10 million wideman looked to have doubled Newcastle's advantage.

And with ten minutes left 34-year-old Jones somehow scooped a Nolberto Solano chip round his left upright after a thrilling run from the Peru international.

Jones chatted with Wales captain Gary Speed in the players' tunnel after Saints' seventh game against sides in the top eight in as many weeks.

"I thought we'd had a tough run recently and then I found out Wales had got a fixture against the Argies!" he joked.

"Originally I was expecting some time off during the week but I'd swap that for a game against Argentina any time.

"It's the sort of game you play professional football for.

"I've played against Brazil and Italy before but not Argentina, and we've got Germany coming up so it's not just Southampton that get tough games!"

Jones's Welsh teammate Craig Bellamy, playing the day after making the headlines for the wrong reasons, had several chances to score - most of which were created through his own blistering pace.

But more often than not the 22-year-old failed to hit the target, unlike strike partner and former Saint Alan Shearer.

"At least Craig didn't score, but hopefully he will for us on Wednesday," added Jones.

Gordon Strachan, on his 45th birthday, saw Saints match title-chasing Newcastle during a compelling first half.

Marian Pahars has never failed to score against the Geordies. And he and Kevin Davies both tested Shay Given early on before Pahars netted his fifth goal in four games against the Magpies.

Pahars, who scored Saints' equaliser at St James' Park in May, fired home his 13th of the season from six yards after a Paul Telfer cross was helped on by Chris Marsden and Anders Svensson.

That brought Saints right back into it at 2-1 but then came Lundekvam's foul on Bellamy.

After the break, Newcastle threatened to run riot.

"The second half was as good a 45 minutes as we have played all season," said Bobby Robson. "Southampton were good in the first half but we were excellent after that."

Birthday boy Strachan admitted: "When Newcastle smelt blood they were after us."

Bellamy set the tone for the second half immediately after the re-start, clipping the outside of Jones's woodwork after a near post run.

Then Shearer was denied a hat-trick when he struck the same post with a 25-yard drive.

Pahars, though, had two chances to improve his already impressive record against Newcastle in the last five minutes but sent both over the bar.

Jones added: "We had chances in the first 20 minutes without really taking them and Marian's had a couple late on.

"We were getting stuck into them in the first half but unfortunately it didn't work out for us.

"We've done well away from St Mary's recently and today we created enough chances to have got something out of the game."

Strachan added: "Between the two 18-yard boxes we were good. We had chances but the final pass could have been better. My players' attitude was first class but at the end of the day Newcastle were better than us. The penalty came at a bad time. We were looking good and the crowd was edgy and I would have backed us to get something out of the game if we had been 2-1 down at half-time."

At least Saints' eight-game spell from hell is over.

But four of the starting line up - Jones, Lundekvam (Norway), Bridge (England) and Svensson (Sweden) -- are now preparing to face Argentina, Belgium, Holland and Greece.

"So much for a week off," joked Jones. "But when we're playing Premiership football again it'll be up to us to make sure we take points off sides like Middlesbrough.

"Around Christmas and the New Year people would have looked at the games coming up for us and would probably have asked where we were going to get our next points from.

"But we've dug in deep and picked up some very good results away from home as well as at St Mary's," added Jones.