Pahars power fuels Hoddle revival

Latvian's double earns Saints first win of season and adds glow to Dell manager's halo

Finally, the triumph to reflect adequately Southampton's burgeoning stature under Glenn Hoddle. To Saints, a first Premiership victory of the season; to that diminutive bundle of outrageous ball skills, Marian Pahars, the award of the match halo after his two goals had the visitors contemplating only the long journey home although he will first have to wrestle it from the head of Hassan Kachloul.

Finally, the triumph to reflect adequately Southampton's burgeoning stature under Glenn Hoddle. To Saints, a first Premiership victory of the season; to that diminutive bundle of outrageous ball skills, Marian Pahars, the award of the match halo after his two goals had the visitors contemplating only the long journey home although he will first have to wrestle it from the head of Hassan Kachloul.

The Moroccan's pace constantly unnerved the visitors, and it was his crosses which did not just invite both Pahars' second-half goals, but demanded an RSVP. The Latvian duly obliged.

Hoddle later revealed that he had considered substituting Pahars, who had been troubled by a hamstring problem, at half-time. "He nearly came off, but I took a bit of a gamble and said, 'Give us another 20 to 25 minutes and then I'll have to hook you off'. I'm glad I made that decision. Fortunately, the hamstring's not torn, so I got away with it."

In this confrontation between two former England managers, Hoddle and Bobby Robson, the spoils deservedly went to the younger man, whose influence was evident in all Saints' most fluid movements. Indeed, there was a rare incidence of Hoddle and Mick Wadsworth, who was standing in afterwards for Robson due to illness, both claiming that Southampton were "worthy winners".

Newcastle had not won at The Dell since 1972, a total of 14 visits at the start, and there was precious little promise yesterday that they would end that dismal sequence.

After an auspicious start to their season, during which they led the Premiership briefly, it was another step back to the reality of probable mid-table respectability for Robson's team, following last week's goalless draw with Chelsea. Robson actually travelled, despite a high temperature and losing his voice, but the manager probably accepted that it was a futile excursion once Alan Shearer had failed to capitalise on two first-half opportunities presented to him.

The former England captain might have expected that at the ground where his illustrious career began more than 12 years ago, but where he has failed to experience victory on his return with Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle since.

It was his final appearance at The Dell - Southampton move to their new home next August - where on 9 April, 1988, he scored a hat-trick against Arsenal on his full debut as a 17-year-old trainee.

In the first half, there was little evidence that Shearer would buck that trend until the 28th minute when a fierce header from a corner from Daniel Cordone was blocked at close range by the goalkeeper Paul Jones. Eight minutes before the break, Shearer was again on target from a fine cross from Kieron Dyer, but he lashed the ball against the Saints captain, Jason Dodd.

But they were rare incursions by Newcastle during a first half in which Southampton held the balance of control. At the break, Hoddle can hardly have been satisfied with their finishing against a team acknowledged for their greater emphasis on security at the back this season. The Newcastle rearguard had not conceded a goal for three games. Yet that statistic was to be rendered irrelevant during an opening 10 minutes when Southampton - who were deploying an buccaneering three-man attack led by James Beattie - twice exposed New- castle's vulnerability. The match was only two minutes old when Kachloul found Jo Tessem in space just inside the visitors' area, but his drive made it easy for the Newcastle goalkeeper, Shay Given.

Six minutes later, from a Wayne Bridge free-kick, Beattie headed back across goal from the far post. Tahar El Khalej was well positioned to apply the coup de grâce, but his volley allowed Given to save with his feet.

Robson's team responded with efforts from Didier Domi, Alain Goma and Kevin Gallacher, but Southampton still looked the more likely to establish a half-time advantage. El Khalej had a header saved by Given, and the Norwegian Tessem dragged his shot wide of the far post after being put clear by Kachloul, but the best moment of the half came 10 minutes before the interval when Pahars produced a delightful piece of footwork, which had Newcastle's rearguard looking as off-balance as a troupe of drunken ballet dancers. The only shame was that his attempt to curl the ball beyond Given was thwarted by the goalkeeper.

Saints required only a minute of the second half to take the lead their earlier play had merited. The everdangerous Kachloul found space on the left, and his driven low centre, which eluded the visitors' defence, was driven gleefully into the net from close range by Pahars.

Hoddle's team increased their advantage just after the hour. It was a beautifully flowing move, too, instigated by Tessem, with the ball moving through Matthew Oakley to Kachloul in generous space on the right. As Newcastle appealed in vain for offside, the Moroccan again delivered a low cross into the goalmouth which Pahars turned in at the far post. The Latvian, substituted five minutes later to a standing ovation, had increased his goal tally for the season to five.

Despite Newcastle's late surge - during which Jones saved a Shearer free-kick - there was no doubt where the points were destined.