Newcastle blasted Southampton out of the water with an exhilarating display to climb to their highest league position of the season.

The Magpies flew out of the blocks to rock the Saints 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 15.

More importantly, the win took Newcastle seven points clear of Dave Jones' side and into 13th place, their best of the season, as they climbed above Middlesbrough and next week's opponents Wimbledon.

While Bobby Robson was able to name an unchanged 11 with Rob Lee missing out again because of a hip injury, Southampton were not so fortunate.

Saints boss Jones was left to pick up the pieces in the wake of an injury crisis which robbed him of Claus Lundekvam, Matt Le Tissier, Chris Marsden and Jason Dodd, and with Matthew Oakley suspended, his resources were stretched to the limit.

Dean Richards returned to action, as did Mark Hughes, and there were places too for Dryden, James Beattie, Patrick Colleter and Trond Soltvedt.

Long-term absentee John Beresford, a popular man on Tyneside after his service in a black and white shirt, won a return among the substitutes.

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 scoresheet 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.

Solano headed a Soltvedt shot off his own line as Southampton battled for some respectability, but the writing was very firmly on the wall for the men from the south coast.

The arrival of Francis Benali in place of Colleter at the break served to stiffen the Saints defence, but Newcastle were in uncompromising mood as they went in search of more goals.

A poor Ripley corner allowed Dyer and Shearer to set Kevin Gallacher in motion on 52 minutes, and when he played in Solano, Richards had to head clear from Shearer at the far post.

But the visitors played with more vigour after the break, and Kevin Davies' turn away from Marcelino presented him with a shooting chance, although he blasted high over the bar.

It took a flying save from Jones to deny Solano a second goal on 70 minutes as he sent a dipping volley towards goal.

Beresford received a warm welcome as he entered the fray for Dryden two minutes later, but he arrived to find his side under intense pressure once again.

However, the Saints were making a fist of it and Ripley should have done better when he blazed wide after finding space.

Shearer was gradually coming to the realisation that it was not his day after Jones again proved equal to the task as the striker fired in a blistering 78th-minute shot.

But Jones was beaten once more, seven minutes from time, when Gary Speed found Dabizas inside the box and his shot deflected off Monk and into the net.

Teams:

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.

Att: 35,623

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).