Newcastle defied an early red card for Fabian Schar to edge past Southampton 1-0 during the first Saturday of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Newcastle’s hopes of a winning start to the season looked to have been undone when Schar was sent off after just 28 minutes for what the referee deemed a headbutt on Ben Brereton Diaz despite limited contact between the pair.
Southampton had dominated even the early exchanges against the Magpies’ full compliment but failed to convert from 19 shots and nearly 80 percent possession.
By contrast, Newcastle were clinical as Alexander Isak teed up Joelinton for the only goal just before half-time.