Saturday's Premiership photos

Alan Shearer's 250th career goal lifted the cloud over St James' Park at the end of a traumatic week for Newcastle.

Shearer's strike against the club where he began his career, set up the Magpies' first Premiership win of the season.

Inspired by the former England captain, Newcastle were good value for their win.

But the lack of a second goal meant they were never entirely comfortable against a Saints team who were slumping to their first away defeat of the season.

The St James' Park crowd was certainly pumped up for this game, with a huge roar greeting manager Sir Bobby Robson, who had to quash rumours earlier in the week that he had resigned.

As expected, Newcastle threw everything at Southampton in the opening stages, with referee Phil Dowd unimpressed when Lee Bowyer went down under Claus Lundekvam's challenge.

Shear delight 43mins: Alan Shearer scores the 250th goal of a distinguished career

Gary Speed then powered a header wide from a free-kick by Bowyer, who had his 16th-minute strike ruled out for handball.

For all Newcastle's territorial advantage, Southampton's resolute defence kept chances to a minimum - and when they did get through, Antti Niemi kept Newcastle at bay.

On 38 minutes, the big Finn saved superbly after Shearer had been set up by Craig Bellamy, who appeared to shove Michael Svensson in the build-up.

Saints Boss Gordon Strachan

Niemi could do nothing to deny Shearer his long-awaited milestone goal on 43 minutes, though.

Jermaine Jenas spotted Shearer's run and laid a nicely-weighted pass into the path of the former England skipper, who struck his shot past Niemi at full stretch.

Let's hope Newcastle's under-performers now realise that being rubbish does nothing for their image From Phil K Have your say on 606

Dowd was again unimpressed as Kieron Dyer went down extravagantly in the box under Chris Marsden's challenge as Newcastle looked for the cushion of a second goal at the start of the second half.

The home side's failure to stretch their lead created some nerves in their much-criticised defence - and on a rare raid, Beattie glanced a header just wide from Fabrice Fernandes' cross.

That provided Southampton with confidence and Paul Telfer's piledriver from 30 yards prompted a great save from Shay Given.

Newcastle captain Alan Shearer

Shearer, inevitably, nursed Newcastle through their rocky patch, relieving the pressure with a snap shot which forced another fine save from Niemi.

With five minutes left, former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips had a chance to level but failed to get enough power into his volley to trouble Given.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Dyer, Jenas, Speed, Bowyer, Shearer, Bellamy.
Subs Not Used: Griffin, Harper, Ambrose, Ameobi, Viana.

Booked: O'Brien, Bowyer, Bramble.

Southampton: Niemi, Dodd (Prutton 81), Michael Svensson, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Fernandes (Ormerod 81), Telfer, Marsden, McCann (Anders Svensson 20), Beattie, Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hall.

Booked: Michael Svensson, Anders Svensson.

Attendance: 52,127

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).