{"id":416793,"date":"2019-04-20T18:19:46","date_gmt":"2019-04-20T22:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=416793"},"modified":"2019-04-20T18:19:46","modified_gmt":"2019-04-20T22:19:46","slug":"newcastle-united-all-but-safe-as-ayoze-perez-hat-trick-sees-off-southampton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/04\/20\/newcastle-united-all-but-safe-as-ayoze-perez-hat-trick-sees-off-southampton\/","title":{"rendered":"Newcastle United All But Safe As Ayoze Perez Hat-Trick Sees Off Southampton"},"content":{"rendered":"

A clinical hat-trick from an in-form Ayoze Perez<\/a> against Southampton<\/a> has effectively guaranteed survival for Newcastle United<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This crucial victory<\/a> sends the Magpies ten points clear<\/a> of Cardiff City<\/a>, who will require nothing short of a miracle to catch them.<\/p>\n

Newcastle Safe As Perez Hat-Trick Downs Southampton<\/h1>\n

Perez The Poacher<\/h2>\n

Despite a nervy second half, Ayoze Perez completed a classy hat-trick to help his side past Southampton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With six goals in six games<\/a>, the Spaniard\u00a0continued his rich vein of form against a lacklustre, non-combative\u00a0Southampton<\/a>\u00a0side.<\/p>\n

His first two goals came within four minutes of each other and were a product of the Saints’ sluggishness. In both cases, Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side were the architects of their own destruction as they were caught in possession far too easily.<\/p>\n

Firstly by Isaac Hayden<\/a> and then by Salomon Rondon<\/a>, the diminutive Spaniard was slipped in and finished off the move in style. Despite Mario Lemina<\/a> pegging one bag, he then added an instinctive headed finish to put the game beyond all doubt.<\/p>\n

This marks Perez’s eight, ninth and tenth goals<\/a> of the season, which makes it his most prolific in a single Premier League campaign.<\/a><\/p>\n

Somnambulant Saints<\/h2>\n

Ralph Hasenhuttl has enjoyed a fantastic tenure at St. Mary’s<\/a> so far, as Southampton<\/a> have marched away from the relegation zone in recent weeks. On Saturday evening, however, his side were not at the races for the majority of the game.<\/p>\n

They played as though they were already safe yet, in reality, their Premier League status is still precarious<\/a>. As is expected at this level, Southampton’s listlessness was punished and they looked beaten going into the break.<\/p>\n

Hassenhuttl was forced into a double substitution and a drastic tactical substitution following his side’s terrible first-half performance. He switched to four at the back and the introduction of Mario Lemina<\/a> immediately paid dividends.<\/p>\n

The Gabonese international curled in a fine finish just before the hour mark, which foreshadowed a double-blow for Newcastle United as\u00a0Miguel Almiron<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Fabian Schar\u00a0<\/a>were withdrawn due to injury.<\/p>\n

The momentum had swung in Southampton<\/a>‘s favour and the Newcastle fans were fearful of throwing away their comfortable lead. Perez added a timely third, however, which secured his hat-trick and subsequently sees his side surpass the highly coveted 40-point mark.<\/p>\n

Southampton, meanwhile, will now be looking over their shoulder nervously at Cardiff City and won’t want their hard-work not to be undone. It will, though, if they exhibit the same sluggishness going forward.<\/p>\n

Rafa Benitez: Miracle Worker<\/h2>\n

For the second consecutive season<\/a>, Rafael Benitez has secured survival for Newcastle United<\/a> in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

With the limited resources available to him<\/a>, he continually manages to find a winning formula. With 41 points after 35 games, his side could yet out-do last years achievement of 44.<\/p>\n

At the end of the match, his name rang around St. James Park, which demonstrated just how highly-regarded he is by their fans. His contract, however, expires at of the season<\/a> and Newcastle<\/a> fans will be desperate for the Spaniard to stay.<\/p>\n

Benitez refused to give much away about his future post-match and concentrated on the near future. He asserted that “we are not competing” and hinted how he wants to lead a more ambitious project if he were to stay.<\/p>\n

If Liverpool<\/a> win against Cardiff City<\/a> on Sunday, then the Magpies are mathematically safe. Additionally, if\u00a0Newcastle<\/a> win against Brighton<\/a> and Fulham<\/a> then an unthinkable eleventh-place finish could be on the cards.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a>