It was the same old story for Saints on Saturday - chances to win the match missed and ultimately rued.

Gordon Strachan's team have had some tough games recently and not disgraced themselves in any of them - but they must be aware that the results should have been better.

When you play well in matches against Manchester United, Liverpool, Blackburn and Newcastle - which you wouldn't be embarrassed to lose - and come away with one draw and three defeats, you must wonder what is going on.

In this game, Saints had most of the first half an hour and a few good openings but scored only once.

Predictably, Newcastle got their act together and roared back for victory.

Disappointing.

Saints keeper Antti Niemi agreed: "I think this game was the poorest performance of the last few weeks - we could have done really well but were lacking something.

"We started well for the first half hour but then we gave the ball away and looked happy to defend and I don't know why.

"We had a few chances to make it 2-0 but never scored that goal and paid a heavy price.

"We could have gone and had we got the second because 2-0 is always a pretty comfortable lead.

"We weren't really under that much pressure - and haven't been - playing against the better sides."

James Beattie gave Saints the lead in only the second minute with a fantastic shot - his sixth goal in six games.

Brett Ormerod's run was halted by a sliding tackle from Andy O'Brien on the edge of the Newcastle area and the ball bobbled up to Beattie who lashed it home brilliantly from 20 yards.

Newcastle and their fans, still celebrating their progression into the second phase of the Champions' League, were stunned.

They looked like they'd just been hit in the gut, or somewhere slightly more painful, and Saints had their chance.

Another goal then with the Magpies on the back foot and Saints pouring forward and it should have been all over.

But Saints didn't take their chances and, when Newcastle recovered, they turned on the class and it proved too much for Strachan's team.

Saints almost doubled their lead on 15 minutes when Chris Marsden flighted the ball to the far post but Aaron Hughes got to it just before Beattie, who would have headed home from close range.

Those two linked up again with a neat one-two but when Beattie whipped the ball across the face of goal from the by-line, Steven Caldwell was the only person on the six-yard box and cleared over his own bar.

Saints came close again at the end of the match through Agustin Delgado but, in between, Newcastle had taken the lead.

After Niemi had made an inspired save from Shola Ameobi, the Toon striker slid home ahead of Claus Lundekvam to equalise on 40 minutes.

Kieron Dyer had been pushed out to the left side of the Saints box by Michael Svensson, where he had his back to goal with Wayne Bridge tight behind him.

But the England left-back, perhaps worried by the yellow card he had just picked up, allowed Dyer to spin and cross for the equaliser.

Just four minutes later, Alan Shearer thought he had been fouled in the area but the referee decided not.

Niemi admitted: "I touched him but I'm not sure if I got my fingers on the ball. It was 50-50 - sometimes they're given and sometimes not."

After 54 minutes, Newcastle took the lead.

Fabrice Fernandes was caught out of position in the centre of the pitch and put in a weak challenge.

The ball was put through to Hugo Viana, whose pass found Hughes at the far post - Fernandes' side - and the Newcastle man slotted across Niemi and into the far corner.

Niemi had to make one more good save and Matt Oakley had to clear off the line from Shearer's header but it looked unlikely - save Delgado's chance - that Saints would hit back.

The best chance of winning had gone... that shipped had sailed.

Statistics say that, in 14 league games this season, Saints have scored more than once on only two occasions - and that's where the problem lies.