Hughes the hitman as Dyer loads the bullets

Newcastle's three previous home games against Southampton had seen them pile in a dozen goals. This time just one in each half was enough as the team returned to the reality of chasing league points after the heady European victory of last Wednesday. They eventually over- came Southampton's organised resistance with increasingly confident and attractive football after conceding a goal inside the first couple of minutes.

Central to the victory was the perception and incisive running of Kieron Dyer, abetted by the aggression of Alan Shearer and the excellent vision and distribution of Hugo Viana. He may not be the fastest man to emerge from Portugal but he is proving himself a sound signing by Sir Bobby Robson.

Craig Bellamy, hero of the win over Feyenoord, was rested but his replacement, Shola Ameobi, turned in Newcastle's first goal and did not do badly – "from dozy to dynamic" according to Robson. That could have summed up the whole team. "We certainly looked travel weary, although we had not travelled far," said the manager. "The players looked leggy, lost duels, and were not alert on the throw-in that cost us the goal."

That throw was collected by Brett Ormerod, who headed at speed for the Newcastle penalty box. Steven Caldwell's interception merely aided the passage of the ball to the predatory James Beattie, who thumped his sixth goal of the season in off Shay Given's right-hand upright.

Things could have got much worse for Newcastle. Beattie threw himself at a dipping cross from Chris Marsden and collected a boot to the head rather than a second goal, before diddling Andy Griffin on the byline and centring low for Caldwell to turn the ball over his own bar.

Frantic gestures from Robson, pointing the way to Southampton's net, indicated what he thought of his side's play in that first 20 minutes.

Then the tide turned, as Viana just cleared the bar and Ameobi got past Michael Svensson for a crisp effort which Antti Niemi did well to turn aside one-handed. As Newcastle took a grip Southampton were particularly shaken by the combative Shearer, and Michael Svensson and Wayne Bridge collected bookings in trying to halt him. Every tussle involving Shearer seemed to end with a free kick awarded one way or the other.

Dyer's brilliance brought the equaliser three minutes from half-time. Having started a move, he ended up penned near the byline by the England man, Bridge. Suddenly, with a swivel of the hips, Dyer was past his marker to deliver a low ball into the goalmouth. Ameobi did the rest.

Shearer thought he deserved a penalty in the closing seconds of the half, having fallen under Niemi's sliding challenge. The referee thought otherwise, and got such an earful from the Newcastle captain that the yellow card was flourished. Words were also said in the home dressing room at the break, and there was a new purpose to their play which brought the winner in the 53rd minute.

Speed started it in the centre circle, sending Viana on a 40-yard run before slipping the ball to the unmarked and fast-closing Aaron Hughes on his left. The shot was slightly delayed but when it came there was nothing Niemi could do about it.

As Southampton went in search of their earlier authority Newcastle found more space, in they revelled.

Meantime, Shearer went on a one-man assault trying to claim his elusive 100th league goal for the club. Immediately after Hughes' goal he tapped one in from a rebound but did not bother to dispute an offside flag.

According to Gordon Strachan, "Newcastle won because they had Shearer. We lost because we didn't have Shearer".

Robson, of course, thought there was more to it than that. "It was not only down to Alan, though his was a massive performance. I am delighted with all our players. Dyer's brilliance turned the match, it was a terrific win. People thought we would drop points in this one, but we didn't. Nobody flagged."

Newcastle United 2
Ameobi 41, Hughes 54

Southampton 1
Beattie 2

Half-time: 1-1 Attendance: 51,812