Marsden shows his magic in Newcastle draw.

Last updated : 15 December 2002 By Christian Kelly
Although they haven't won at Southampton in over thirty years, Newcastle created plenty of chances as did the home side. While Newcastle had some excellent pressing and Paul Jones to blame for their missed opportunities, Saints could only look at some poor finishing.

The game was played at breakneck speed from start to finish and will further cement Saints growing reputation amongst neutrals this season.

Saints started brightly with Marsden putting a ball across the face of the goal after 4 minutes, Delap shooting a couple of yards wide a minute later and Brett Ormerod almost getting the opener having beaten the offside trap only to put the ball inches wide.

Newcastle struck back after eight minutes with Robert's free kick being met by Alan Shearer. The ex-Saint's effort was saved superbly by Jones and Bellamy contrived to miss the follow-up, putting the ball wide of the post. Bellamy really should have opened the scoring, but it was to be an afternoon of missed chances all round.

Bellamy did make Paul Jones work a minute later to pull off a good save after the Welsh striker had got the better of Lundekvam.

Rory Delap sent a shot over the Newcastle crossbar after 14 minutes. Delap is looking a much better player recently and has done much to make a credible claim for a regular first team place.

James Beattie, being watched by England manager Svenn Goran Eriksson, made his first impression after twenty minutes with a free kick. Beattie managed to get the ball round the wall, but the ball ricochets in the box without Saints being able to capitalise on it. Neither Beattie or Shearer would create many goal scoring opportunities. However, Eriksson should have been impressed by Beattie's all round ability in creating room for others, good ball skills and in providing a focal point for attacks. Thos are abilities that few other English forwards can match, and then there are Beattie's goals and set pieces too.

While Saints had most of the sustained pressure during the game, the best chances were for the visiting side. On 22 minutes, Dyer got past the Saints defence, with Lundekvam unable to challenge or concede a free kick. Dyer then rounds Paul Jones and a goal looked certain. However, Lundekvam got back to provide a block to Dyer's shot which went across the face of goal. Saints then struggled to get the ball clear from their goalmouth and finally Michael Svensson thumped the ball away.

Chris Marsden is usually a very influential player for Saints. In the absence of Dodd, he was captain for the day and he got involved in many of the best Saints attacking moves. Marsden dragged his first shot of the afternoon wide after being involved in a good move with Beattie.

Saints continued to create from a variety of sources. Fabrice Fernandes pulled more than his fair share of defensive duties in the absence of Dodd, but remained a tricky figure for Newcastle to defend against. Newcastle 'keeper, Shay Given, had to save on 27 minutes as Fabrice cut in from the right flank o and hit a left footed shot. A minute later saw the Frenchman just unable to control a cross from James Beattie after an impressive move by Beattie and Bridge down the right flank.

The game continued to ping pong from end to end with both teams looking to get the vital first goal. While Ormerod couldn't control the ball at one end, Newcastle's Gary Speed saw his firm header put over the crossbar by Paul Jones.

With Antti Niemi considered to now be the number one goalkeeper at he club, Paul Jones has taken his chance in the last tow games to show what an excellent 'keeper he is. While the competition for places would ensure an excellent level of goalkeeping, it looks unlikely that Saints will be able to keep both players.

Brett Ormerod almost got a lucky opener as his cross from the right, which looked to be perfectly weighted for the Saints forwards in the box, deflected off a defender shortly after it was struck. Given had to adjust quickly to prevent the deflected effort from going into the net.

Saints continued to put together some really excellent passing moves and they dominated the possession for the remainder of the half. Saints always respond well to teams who come out and play in an attacking style and yesterday was no exception. However, the poor final ball from both sides prevented many more opportunities in the fist half.

While Saints started the second half brightly through an Anders Svensson free kick, it was Newcastle who finally got the opening goal. Picking up the ball form 30 yards out, Bellamy pushed forward once he got the ball under control. His task was made easier as Anders Svensson failed to get in any challenge on the Welshman. Bellamy proceeded to attack the retreating Saints defence and unleashed a curling shot round Claus Lundekvam form 20 yards out. Paul Jones could do little as it went round his outstretched hand and into the net. The Welsh international goalkeeper was far from impressed with his defence.

Newcastle almost put the game beyond the Saints a minute after the restart. Paul Jones had to save from both Bellamy and Jenas to keep the Saints in the match.

Some excellent pressing got the ball back for the Saints in midfield through a Beattie tackle. Fabrice Fernandes put in a cross from the right which just eluded James Beattie in the middle. It didn't escape Chris Marsden, who had made a 25 yard run to get to the back post and the captain put the ball in from a yard out.

The quick equaliser restored Saints confidence completely and they had shots from Delap and Marsden in the following minutes. Beattie also showed his versatility, getting past the Newcastle defence and to the by-line. He cut the ball across goal but Anders Svensson couldn't get on the end of the opportunity.

With Newcastle hitting back with a deflected shot from Dyer, the game was still very much in the balance.

Paul Jones had to be alert to stop a cross form reaching Jenas after 61 minutes. However, when he opted to punch a corner clear rather than risk catching a slippery ball in front of the opposition, he received some flack from some fans. This showed that Jones would have to perform miracles to win over some Saints supporters, if then.

On 65 minutes, James Beattie showed some good skill in turning and getting a shot in on the Newcastle goal only to see it go wide. Saints best chance to go ahead came three minutes later when Chris Marsden put a clear header wide from 4 yards after a great cross from Fernandes.

A minute later and the play was around the Saints goal, with Jones saving comfortably from Bellamy. Newcastle had the next effort on goal too, with Gary Speeds shot going high and wide.

A minute later saw a rare run forward from Wayne Bridge. As always, he was excellent when he did it, but just doesn't do it often enough. On this occasion James Beattie failed to make the best form Wayne's final ball in.

Chris Marsden's heading ability sadly didn't improve as the game went on. A Fernandes corner was flicked on by Michael Svensson to reach Marsden at the back. Marsden , with plenty of time snatched at it and it went over the bar. However, it does illustrate just how effective Marsden is when he gets forward and what a great asset to the team he is.

Alan Shearer had a very quiet match, shooting over after 75 minutes and trying to cheat his way into winning a penalty a minute later testament to how well the Saints defence handled him. Marsden's look of disgust at Shearer's cheating spoke volumes as did the reaction of the Saints supporters, well used to Alan's antics.

Once again , it was the turn of Saints to push forward. After a good spell of sustained pressure, Anders Svensson put the ball across goal after 82 minutes. Minutes later, Beattie almost got to head in the winner but Given managed to keep it out in time.

After such an exhilarating display, Newcastle almost handed Saints the winner in the last minute. Under no pressure to clear from 8 yards out, Andy O'Brien put a sound header towards his own goal, and only the crossbar prevented it from going into the net.

In the end both sides will be content with a point from this good natured, high tempo display. Both teams will also be putting in some extra shooting practice on the training pitch next week too.

Saints Man of the Match : Paul Jones. A fantastic display which kept Saints in the game at times.A close second would be Chris Marsden FG, who covered every blade of grass as usual and also had plenty of scoring opportunities too.

Newcastle Man of the Match: Craig Bellamy. A real handful for defences and there's now much more to his game than just pace.