Darren Ambrose scored a stoppage time goal from 20 yards but it was not enough to rescue Newcastle's bid for a Champions League qualifying place and it will now be a summer of intrigue at St James' Park after another failed season.

Their last hope of glory was extinguished by Southampton's French substitute Leandre Griffit who, just seven minutes after replacing compatriot winger Fabrice Fernandes, struck the most meaningful blow in this roller-coaster contest.

Running on to a James Beattie flick he muscled past Olivier Bernard and slipped his shot under Shay Given to make it 3-2 for battling Saints - his second goal for them as a substitute this season.

Even Ambrose's deflected late effort then counted for nothing - except Newcastle may now get back in the UEFA Cup via fifth place with a win at Anfield on Saturday.

Sir Bobby Robson, the 71-year-old Newcastle manager whose job has come under threat from his side's inconsistent season, crowned by a shattering UEFA Cup exit in the semi-finals, knew they had to win both their last two games at Southampton and Liverpool.

Without the injured Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Jenas, Jonathan Woodgate and Andy O'Brien, he decided to gamble on bringing back Kieron Dyer after five games out with a hamstring injury.

Saints were also battered by injuries and had no choice but to make an open game of it.

With injury-hit Newcastle committed to going forward in search of maximum points to have any chance of pipping Liverpool for fourth spot and Saints fielding a quartet of attack-minded midfielders it was always likely to be a game full of goals.

Add to the mix the late withdrawal of Southampton's brilliant Finland goalkeeper Antti Niemi through illness, plus an early injury to centre back Claus Lundekvam and it became a nailed-on certainty.

Third-choice Saints keeper Alan Blayney - reserve Paul Smith was also out, nursing a gashed arm - became the first aunt sally in a coconut shy of shots. His first Premiership touch was to pick the ball out of the net after Shola Ameobi's seventh-minute opener for the Magpies.

It was a route one special, with Ameobi heading a long ball up into the air and then chasing it down to the edge of the area where he shouldered aside Paul Telfer's weak challenge to crack a shot inside the young Irish keeper's near post.

Dyer should have made it two when shooting wide from Gary Speed's knock-down of a right-wing free-kick after Beattie had been booked for a crude foul.

Instead it was Beattie who tapped home a 20th-minute equaliser for his 16th - and easiest - goal of the season after Shay Given could only palm out Anders Svensson's low drive.

Poor defending allowed the Swede the space for his shot and Newcastle, at times looked all over the place at the back with Jonathan Woodgate and Andy O'Brien.

But it was Southampton who were in disarray when Bowyer cracked his second goal in five days - and only his second for the club - to regain Newcastle's lead from an Ameobi pass in the 36th minute.

The home fans - already spitting blood over referee Graham Poll's rejection of a penalty appeal for Steve Caldwell's shove on Beattie - could not understand why the Hertfordshire official would not allow the clearly indisposed Claus Lundekvam to be substituted during the build up to the goal.

There was clearly an opportunity when the ball went out for a Newcastle throw which Bernard, admittedly, took fairly quickly.

But the home mood lifted almost immediately when Fernandes drilled in a low cross from the right two minutes later and the unfortunate Titus Bramble turned the ball into his own net.

Blayney covered himself in glory tipping over Alan Shearer's shot in brilliant style before knocking away Ameobi's well-struck effort. Steve Caldwell, who held the Newcastle defence together, headed against the bar when a Darren Ambrose free-kick floated over the keeper's head.

But Saints were just as creative, Fernandes racing down the right only to leave his cross too late and allow Darren Ambrose to hack clear from under the bar.

Telfer's powerful shot was beaten out by Given and Beattie raised a consistent threat with his tireless running, even before the late appearance of regular strike-partner Kevin Phillips - he eventually limped off again, as substitute for Brett Ormerod who had spurned a pair of plausible chances.

And, although Newcastle were laying siege to the Saints goal in the end, there defence was always an accident waiting to happen - much to Griffit's and Southampton's delight.

Teams

Southampton: Blayney, Telfer, Lundekvam (Kenton 36), Hall, Crainey, Fernandes (Griffit 81), Folly, Anders Svensson, Prutton, Beattie, Ormerod (Phillips 74).

Subs Not Used: Poke, Blackstock.

Booked: Beattie.

Goals: Beattie 19, Bramble 39 og, Griffit 88.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Bramble (Bridges 90), Caldwell, Bernard, Dyer (Robert 75), Bowyer, Ambrose, Speed, Shearer, Ameobi.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Griffin, Viana.

Booked: Caldwell, Bramble.

Goals: Ameobi 7, Bowyer 35, Ambrose 90.

Att: 31,815

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).