When Newcastle won 2-1 at The Dell in February 1972, who would have dreamed it would turn out to be their last league win at the stadium?

Alan Shearer was only a year old, Britain had just voted to join the EEC and there was a fuel crisis - so at least some things have not changed!

Since then Southampton have held an Indian sign over a succession of Magpies teams who have failed to win there in 15 visits.

So there will be loud cheers across Tyneside at the end of the season when their bogey ground is finally demolished to make way for a new stadium in Southampton's spiritual home of St Mary's.

Their 28-year jinx seems to have become a psychological barrier which they cannot overcome, no matter how well they play.

And the annual three points from this fixture could hardly have been better-timed for the Saints who were desperate to pick up their first win of the season.

The moment Paul Jones pulled off a spectacular point-blank range reflex save from Shearer's bullet header on 28 minutes, you could almost read the thoughts - it is not going to be our day again!

And when Marian Pahars was left scandalously unmarked to slam home the opening goal 90 seconds after the break, that feeling of weary resignation grew even stronger.

Instead of increasing their resolve, Bobby Robson's men conceded a mirror image goal on the hour.

Once again it came from a low cross by Hassan Kachloul but this time from the right.

And once more the little Latvian was left totally free, darting in ahead of Alain Goma to bundle home from close range and make it two for joy against the Magpies, despite a tight hamstring which almost forced him off at half-time.

There was a slight suspicion of offside but that cannot disguise the defensive failings to allow the same move to pay dividends for a second time.

The back four, who had kept three successive clean sheets coming into the game, looked ill at ease for much of the afternoon against a Southampton attack spearheaded by the aerial threat of James Beattie knocking balls down for any one of three supporting attacking midfielders.

The United defence found the runners hard to track and only fine saves from Shay Given and poor finishing by the home side kept the score down.

After going two down, the heads dropped and far from rallying they failed to create another serious chance, mustering only a straightforward 25-yard free-kick by Shearer.

So complete was Southampton's control that the home fans even taunted their long-distance rivals with chants of: "What a waste of petrol!"

Yet Robson's men had their moments with Kieron Dyer making dangerous darting runs unchecked and Nolberto Solano threatening.

With Gary Speed industrious, they had good possession and some penetration, moving the ball around nicely enough but without the cutting edge to make it count.

Didier Domi, Kevin Gallacher and Daniel Cordone were all denied by the recalled keeper and Shearer had a goalbound shot blocked at point blank range by his old pal Jason Dodd.

United allowed themselves to be muscled out of it far too tamely to cast serious doubts over their credentials as early Premiership front-runners.

But then since they rarely get anything at The Dell anyway, there is no real damage done. Roll on St Mary's.

Goals: Pahars (47 mins, 1-0; 61, 2-0).

Referee: Barry Knight (Orpington).

Attendance: 15,621.

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Jones 7, Dodd 7, Bridge 6, Richards 6, Lundekvam 6, El Khalej 6, Tessem 7, Oakley 6, Pahars 6 (Ripley 66, 6), Beattie 6 (Rosler 83), Kachloul 8 (Le Tissier 89). Subs (not used): Marsden, Moss.

Newcastle (4-4-2): Given 8, Domi 6 (Griffin 84), Charvet 6, Goma 6, Hughes 7, Solano 6, Dyer 6, Gallacher 6 (Ameobi 74), Shearer 6, Cordone 6, Speed 7. Subs (not used): Harper, Kerr, Hamilton.

MAN OF THE MATCH

HASSAN Kachoul - a dominant force.