Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer served up a timely double to keep his side firmly in the race for the Premiership title.

The 31-year-old powered home a 29th-minute header and then added a second from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time after Laurent Robert had opened the scoring with a blistering free-kick to clinch another three points for Bobby Robson's side.

Marian Pahars had given the visitors hope when he briefly reduced the deficit with 39 minutes gone to give the visitors some reward for a gutsy first-half display, but after the break, it was all Newcastle.

Twice the post came to Paul Jones' rescue as both Craig Bellamy and Shearer rattled the woodwork, and the Saints keeper produced a stunning save from Nolberto Solano 11 minutes from time to keep the scoreline respectable.

Newcastle may have been fortunate to go in at half-time with a 3-1 lead, but they ended the game worthy winners as Shearer's 18th and 19th goals of the season extended their points tally to 52, one more than they collected in the whole of the last campaign.

Newcastle went into the game knowing exactly what was at stake in the context of their season, and walked off at half-time delighted with their lead.

But the scoreline alone could not tell the story of an opening period which saw both sides threaten at regular intervals.

By contrast, the visitors will have been devastated to go in two goals down after more than playing their part in an entertaining encounter.

The pace and power of front two Pahars and Kevin Davies, ably assisted by the probing of Paul Telfer and Chris Marsden, unlocked the United rearguard on more than one occasion, and they could easily have had more to show for their efforts than the little Latvian's 39th-minute strike.

However, the fact that they did not take their chances was cruelly pounced upon by a Newcastle side which, while not at its best, showed a ravenous appetite in front of goal.

Robert's 24th-minute opener - a stinging 35-yard free-kick - was worth the entrance money alone, and a trademark Shearer header five minutes later looked to have secured the points with more than an hour still to play.

Pahars' goal gave his side fresh hope, but they were dealt a major blow in the final minute of the half when defender Claus Lundekvam was adjudged to have fouled the livewire Bellamy - making headlines for the right reasons - inside the box, and Shearer took full advantage from the spot.

The home side turned up the heat after the break and should really have sewn the game up with two minutes.

French defender Sylvain Distin exploded down the left wing and delivered an inch perfect cross to the near post, but the unfortunate Bellamy saw his close-range effort come back off the woodwork.

But undeterred by his miss, the Welshman began to torment the Southampton defence. Twice within a minute, he carved his way through the yellow shirts, first smashing a shot from a tight angle into Jones' midriff and then felling defender Paul Williams with a vicious left-foot shot.

Shearer came desperately close to completing his hat-trick on 61 minutes after Aaron Hughes and Solano combined to set him up 20 yards out, only for his low drive to rebound off the same post.

Bellamy should have added his name to the scoresheet a minute later when he again broke free and rounded Jones, but put his shot into the side-netting, and he was unfortunate to see another goalbound effort hit Wayne Bridge on 76 minutes.

Robson threw new boy Jermaine Jenas into the mix 14 minutes from time, but it was Solano who almost put the icing on the cake three minutes later when he ended a mazy run with a delicious chip which Jones brilliantly clawed out of the top corner.

Pahars wasted two late chances to drag his side back into it, but Jenas could have marked his debut with a dream goal at the death, but just failed to meet Shearer's driven cross.

Teams:

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Distin (Elliott 82), Solano, McClen (Jenas 76), Speed, Robert, Bellamy, Shearer.

Subs Not Used: Acuna, Harper, Ameobi.

Goals: Robert 24, Shearer 29, 45 pen.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Williams, Bridge, Svensson, Oakley (Tessem 74), Telfer (Delap 48), Marsden, Davies, Pahars.

Subs Not Used: Moss, Monk, Fernandes.

Booked: Davies.

Goals: Pahars 39.

Att: 51,857

Ref: B Knight (Orpington).