Alexander Isak spearheaded a scintillating attacking display for Newcastle United, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s, as the Magpies continued their push for Champions League qualification.

Newcastle’s prolific striker found the net for the ninth time in ten Premier League matches, and the division’s bottom-placed side could have suffered an even heavier defeat, with Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon delivering outstanding performances for the visitors.

Southampton’s position at the foot of the table now appears increasingly dire. They sit 10 points adrift of safety, with only 15 matches remaining to avoid relegation and the ignominy of potentially recording the league’s lowest-ever points tally. Judging by the ease with which Newcastle dismantled their defence, manager Ivan Juric faces an uphill battle to salvage the season.

The Saints briefly sparked hope when Jan Bednarek’s 10th-minute header gave them an early lead. However, that advantage was short-lived as Isak equalised from the penalty spot after Joe Aribo’s clumsy challenge. Moments later, Isak doubled his tally, converting a sublime pass from Jacob Murphy to give Newcastle the lead before half-time.

Newcastle’s dominance was underlined early in the second half with Tonali’s stunning goal to make it 3-1. The visitors also struck the post twice and had a goal cleared off the line, while Southampton’s frustrations were compounded when Mateus Fernandes had a late effort disallowed by VAR.

The Saints’ opener came courtesy of an energetic passage of play. Kyle Walker-Peters dispossessed Dan Burn near the touchline and teed up James Bree, whose pinpoint cross was met by the unmarked Bednarek, rising to head powerfully into the bottom corner.

Southampton briefly threatened to build on their lead, with Adam Armstrong twice going close. However, Newcastle’s response was swift. After a lengthy VAR review, Aribo’s foul on Isak resulted in a penalty, which the Swede calmly converted past Alex McCarthy.

Minutes later, Murphy exploited space in Southampton’s fragile defence, threading a perfectly weighted pass to Isak, who slotted his finish in off the post to put Newcastle in command.

The second half saw Martin Dubravka produce an acrobatic save to deny Taylor Harwood-Bellis’s volley, but any hope for the home side was extinguished shortly after. A moment of brilliance from Isak – using his shoulder to control the ball – set up Gordon, who provided a deft first-time assist for Tonali to tap home.

Southampton’s defence unravelled further, with Murphy smashing a long-range effort against the post and Joelinton’s goal-bound strike denied by a last-ditch clearance from Bednarek. Meanwhile, Newcastle looked unstoppable, with Isak narrowly missing out on a hat-trick after being thwarted by McCarthy’s outstretched boot.

This emphatic win keeps Newcastle firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish, while Southampton’s prospects of survival grow bleaker by the week.