Newcastle 1-0 Southampton: Joelinton's first-half goal secures victory despite Fabian Schar's red card

Newcastle secured a gritty 1-0 victory over Southampton, with Joelinton's superb finish proving to be the difference. Fabian Schar was sent off in the first half for a reckless headbutt, but Newcastle managed to hold on for the win.

Joelinton took advantage of Alex McCarthy's howler to fire home the winner moments before half-time, when the goalkeeper's awful pass was picked off by Alexander Isak and squared for the Brazilian to find the bottom corner.

Southampton had been the better side until that point, especially after Schar was shown a mindless red card for a coming together with Ben Brereton Diaz just before the half-hour mark.

Schar defender had been riled by Brereton Diaz's needless shove on him moments earlier but left Craig Pawson with little option when he clearly moved his head into the Southampton man.

The Chilean forward had Southampton's best chance of the half but ballooned a header from Yukinari Sugawara's cross over the bar when well-placed.

Last season's 21-goal forward Adam Armstrong spurned both of the visitors' clearest opportunities after the break, first pulling a fine stop out of Nick Pope and then seeing Lewis Hall clear another goal-bound effort off the line.

But with a lead to hold onto, Newcastle showed their defensive mettle to see out victory end Southampton's hopes of an unbeaten Premier League return and earn their fourth opening-day win in a row.

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