Newcastle vs Southampton player ratings: Eljero Elia shines for Saints but Tim Krul has a day to forget

Man-for-man marking from the Premier League encounter at St James' Park

Eljero Elia scores the opening goal for Southampton (Getty Images)

Southampton could thank manager Ronald Koeman for his transfer prowess after January signing Eljero Elia bagged two goals in just his second game for Saints to see off the challenge of Newcastle and return the south coast side to third place.

Elia is on loan from German side Wolfsburg until the end of the season, and he showed on Saturday evening that he could be a shrewd bit of business from Koeman as Saints' season continues to go from strength to strength.

The winger put them ahead early in the first half when he took advantage of weak defending to dribble the ball round Fabricio Coloccini and Paul Dummett, and hit an arrowed shot into the bottom-left corner that Tim Krul should have done better in saving.

But Newcastle hit back when Florin Gardos' clearance hit Yoan Gouffran and ricocheted into the goal to level things up.

In the end though, Elia proved the difference as he scored a deflected second to send Southampton back into third.

So how did the players on each side rate?

Click the gallery below to see our player ratings...

Do you agree with our scores? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.