Miguel Almiron scored for the fourth straight game as Newcastle once again reaffirmed their top-four credentials with a clinical 4-1 win away to Southampton.
The Magpies are up to third in the Premier League – where they'll stay if Tottenham fail to beat Liverpool in the final game of the weekend – after extending their unbeaten run to nine matches.
It's now six wins in seven outings for Eddie Howe's side, who found the net with all four of their shots on target at St Mary's. Almiron's opener was followed by goals from Chris Wood, Joe Willock and – in stoppage time, following Romain Perraud's consolation for the hosts – Bruno Guimaraes. They host Chelsea next Saturday in their last match fixture the World Cup.
Southampton, by contrast, have fallen to consecutive defeats after holding league leaders Arsenal to a 1-1 draw two weeks ago. Ralf Hasenhuttl's men have won just once at home this season (2-1 against stuttering Chelsea in August).
Hasenhuttl has continued to have the board's backing, but this latest loss – the Saints' eighth of the league campaign – is bound to increase pressure on the Austrian ahead of Saturday's trip to Liverpool.
Both teams are also in action in Round Three of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, with Newcastle entertaining Crystal Palace and Southampton hosting Sheffield Wednesday.
