First chance fell the way of Saints. It began with Sofiane Boufal winning a free-kick wide right, allowing James Ward-Prowse to deliver centrally.
Two corners ensued, before Boufal again wriggled free down the right, this time unattended, and fizzed a ball towards Moussa Djenepo. The winger took a swing at it, and nearly connected, had it not been for the boot of Matt Ritchie.
Saints were then saved at the opposite end by a hat-trick of superb saves from Alex McCarthy. JonJo Shelvey had escaped down the wing, and poked a cross towards Almirón.
It was actually Dwight Gayle who had the initial effort, before two follow ups from the Paraguayan were rebuffed by McCarthy in quick succession. Heroic goalkeeping from Saints’ No.1, as Newcastle looked certain to break the deadlock in the eighth minute.
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