Newcastle steam-rolled their way over Southampton yesterday with an exhilarating display to climb to their highest league position of the season. Newcastle flew out of the blocks to rock their visitors with two goals inside three minutes as Duncan Ferguson headed home after Alan Shearer's effort had hit the bar, and then drove a shot into the bottom corner 77 seconds later.

Nolberto Solano collected a third to cap a magnificent individual display, and an own goal from Richard Dryden made it four with barely half an hour gone.

Shearer, who hit the woodwork no fewer than three times, saw a 36th-minute penalty come back off the bar, although television replays later suggested that the ball had crossed the line as it ricocheted down.

Southampton rallied after the break, and it was not until seven minutes from time that Nikos Dabizas made it five with a deflected shot to equal United's biggest home win against the Saints.

But for Jones, United could have won by an even bigger margin as Kieron Dyer and Solano ran riot to avenge their side's 4-2 defeat at the Dell on August 15th. More importantly, the win took Newcastle seven points clear of Dave Jones's side and into 13th place, their best of the season.

The Newcastle faithful have witnessed some remarkable scenes at St James' Park during their Robson-inspired recovery, but they could scarcely have believed what they witnessed in an astonishing opening 45 minutes.

They were 2-0 up with 200 seconds of the start, Ferguson heading past Jones after Shearer's initial effort came back off the crossbar and then dispatching a right-foot shot into the bottom corner after fine build-up play between Solano and Dyer.

Shearer was unfortunate to see an eighth-minute effort hit the post after Solano made life a misery once again for Colleter on the right, but the Peruvian got his own name on the score-sheet with 16 minutes gone after playing a lovely one-two with Shearer and then slotting past Jones from close-range.

Jones withdrew midfielder Luis Boa Morte with 23 minutes gone and sent on defender Garry Monk, and United keeper Steve Harper had to pull off a brilliant save to keep out Stuart Ripley's volley.

But little changed and opposite number Jones did well to keep out a 30th-minute Ferguson header.

However, he was beaten for the fourth time a minute later when Dyer's mazy run and cross saw Dryden deflect the ball into his own net.

Warren Barton hit a post with a cross 10 minutes from the break, but it should have been five a minute later when Shearer blasted a penalty against the bar after Richards pulled Ferguson's shirt.

Seven minutes from time Gary Speed found Dabizas inside the box and his shot deflected off Monk and into the net.

Newcastle: Harper, Barton (Hughes 84), Marcelino, Dabizas, Pistone, Solano (Ketsbaia 80), Dyer, Speed, Gallacher (Domi 76), Shearer, Ferguson. Subs Not Used: Given, Fumaca. Goals: Ferguson 3, 4, Solano 17, Dryden 31 og, Dabizas 83.

Southampton: Jones, Tessem, Richards, Dryden (Beresford 72), Colleter (Benali 45), Ripley, Soltvedt, Hughes, Boa Morte (Monk 23), Davies, Beattie. Subs Not Used: Moss, Pahars. Booked: Hughes.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).