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Perez celebrates scoring his third goal on Saturday. Richard Sellers

Southampton's relegation worries continue as Perez hat-trick helps Newcastle to three points

Ayoze Perez put in a man-of-the-match display at St James’ Park with three goals against the Saints.

AYOZE PEREZ SCORED a superb hat-trick as Newcastle United all but sealed their Premier League safety with an impressive 3-1 home victory over Southampton.

Newcastle striker Perez netted in the 27th and 31st minutes and added a late clincher four minutes from time to move onto 10 top-flight goals for the season.

Substitute Mario Lemina’s first league goal in 14 months, combined with injuries to Miguel Almiron and Fabian Schar, made for a tense second half for the hosts, but they prevailed to leave Southampton with work to do to secure their own survival.

Newcastle had an early penalty claim turned down when Almiron’s shot was blocked by hand of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at close range, before the Paraguay international had a blistering strike tipped over by Angus Gunn.

Newcastle United v Southampton - Premier League - St James' Park A sign in the stands reading 'We are United Things aren't always black and white'. Richard Sellers Richard Sellers

Home players were fuming with referee Anthony Taylor again when he only showed James Ward-Prowse a yellow card for bringing down Almiron near the halfway line as he raced towards goal, Rafael Benitez’s assistant Mikel Antia sent to the stands for his protests.

But the mood at St James’ Park improved rapidly when Perez struck twice in under four minutes.

First, he showed strength to hold off Maya Yoshida and send a fine finish into the far corner after Isaac Hayden’s tackle had set up the chance, before the Spaniard converted Salomon Rondon’s precise cross with a sliding back-post finish from six yards.

Southampton brought on Lemina and Stuart Armstrong at half-time, but it was almost game over when Ki Sung-yueng fired a low strike against the foot of the post from almost 25 yards.

Newcastle United v Southampton - Premier League - St James' Park Salomon Rondon Jan Bednarek battle for the ball at St James' Park. Richard Sellers Richard Sellers

The visitors took advantage of that reprieve by getting back into the game in the 59th minute, Lemina confidently finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box after being set up by Nathan Redmond and Armstrong.

Newcastle lost both a tearful Almiron and then Schar to injuries, and tensions were high when Yoshida blazed over a glorious chance to equalise from six yards.

Gunn then made a superb save from Hayden’s deflected strike and Rondon’s header was cleared off the line by Ward-Prowse, but a third goal arrived when Perez cleverly diverted Matt Ritchie’s diving header past the keeper.

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    Mute Colin Webber
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    May 16th 2015, 8:07 PM

    Hopefully that’s the last game Matt O’Connor takes as Head Coach of Leinster. He needs to be removed for all concerned.

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    Mute Stuart
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    May 16th 2015, 10:11 PM

    Not gunna happen. Madigan voiced his support in the post game MOTM interview. This will be a very different Leinster with Johnny back next year. But I don’t see MOC’s contract being renewed, no matter what happens. Leinster’s 2015/16 season will be defined by the non-internationals though.

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    Mute King Ruck
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    May 16th 2015, 5:49 PM

    Indeed, Madigan once again shows his class … against weak, unstructured opposition). That level of consistency is hard to come by. Book him a ticket for the World Cup – he’s back (from mediocrity).

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    May 16th 2015, 6:20 PM

    Not sure why you got all the red thumbs puck. Your point is valid. This was a meaningless dead rubber against poor opposition.

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    Mute Mark Lawlor
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    May 16th 2015, 6:35 PM

    You can only play what’s in front of you, red thumbs are probably about the mediocrity statement which was harsh.

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    Mute King Ruck
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    May 16th 2015, 9:48 PM

    I don’t know either but I’m being serious about the world cup place. He’ll do a job for us against the mighty Namibia or Canada.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    May 17th 2015, 2:25 PM

    Cian this was a game the scots needed to win so it was no meaningless game from their point of view.
    Leinster’s win also gave Connaught a boast.
    The reason there’s so many madigan articles is because many Leinster fans believed that if he played 10 our season would have been so different.
    Also he’s not had a run at 10 since joe’s last season, a few games here and there last season.

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    Mute Gary
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    May 16th 2015, 6:36 PM

    Lol, munster trolls are out in force. The chip gets bigger.

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    May 16th 2015, 10:47 PM

    Why because we question an opinion progressed ad nauseum on the journal? No chips here, Madigan is a good player, but hes at a crossroads. You’d swear he is the messiah on here..m

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    Mute mcgov
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    May 17th 2015, 8:39 AM

    He is not a prophet, he is a very naughty boy

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    Mute Dave Fingleton
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    May 17th 2015, 11:49 AM

    Nice one, Centurion…

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    May 16th 2015, 10:14 PM

    Leading point scorer in Europe plays maybe his 3 or 4 game at 10 this season and 5 tries in the bag. I wonder what Leinster’s season would have turned out like if he played there more often.

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    Mute Phil O' Meara
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    May 16th 2015, 7:46 PM

    Wow. That rarest of sights- another Ian Madigan headline on The 42.
    I genuinely have nothing against the chap but am bemused by Will’s man crush.
    This player, to be impartial, will be second choice outhalf for Leinster next year and at best third choice Irish outhalf.
    The very best thing be could do for his career would be to move to England, like JJ, and make the outhalf spot his own before returning to Leinster.

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    Mute Philip
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    May 16th 2015, 6:18 PM

    Can he do it against Stoke on a Tuesday night?

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    Mute 09celts
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    May 16th 2015, 6:43 PM

    Marian is the best option Ireland has to come on after 60 mins , if we needed to open up the
    opposition .

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    Mute Captain NerbNerb
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    May 16th 2015, 6:47 PM

    I think away to Edinburgh in an empty Murrayfield is pretty much the pro 12 equivalent of Stoke on a Tuesday night. Not exactly a glamour fixture!

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    Mute Johnny Fitz
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    May 16th 2015, 7:44 PM

    Sportsgrounds on a wet Friday is pretty much the pro 12 equivalent of Stoke on a Tuesday night. A seemingly unglamorous where it notoriously tough game and difficult to get a result. Edinburgh is more like a trip to Villa, a half empty stadium with a questionable atmosphere and wildly inconsistent opponent prone to self-destructing….

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    Mute Dave Lawlor
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    May 17th 2015, 11:23 AM

    Old cliche in sport tells us you don’t become a bad player overnight. Given the fact he has played mostly at 12 this season, his kicking stats are impressive and is comfortable at 10, 12 and a push 15 has him in the w/c squad. Good to see 4/5 scores from academy graduates. Hopefully MOC gives some of these young lads game time next year and not just during the world cup when he’s down at least 18 first choice players!

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