Newcastle United are within swinging distance of Premier League safety - with 11 matches still to play. In what is turning into a remarkable season of two halves, the Magpies are now 10 points clear of the drop zone.
As the rain pelted into the faces of the travelling Geordie contingent it did feel like something significant was growing for the black and whites. The tops came off, the Brazilian flags were flying and the noise levels were phenomenal. This felt like a home game - only we were in Hampshire and 321 miles away from home on a Thursday night!
United fought back from a goal down with Chris Wood levelling the game up before the break and Bruno Guimaraes backheeling his way into Toon folklore.
Yes this was a night that people will look back on and say: "Were you there when Bruno scored the winner in the rain at Southampton on his debut?"
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The Saints had the first goal attempt of the night when former Chelsea star Oriol Romeu headed an effort at goal but Martin Dubravka gathered easily. Newcastle responded by forcing a corner on seven minutes but Matt Targett's delivery was cleared by the Saints and came to nothing.
A Jacob Murphy cross a minute later was hacked clear by the home side giving Targett another chance to put the ball in the danger zone. The delivery caused Mohamed Salisu to make a hasty clearance but Ryan Fraser did not get the connection he was looking for.
On loan Chelsea striker Armando Broja got free in the box on 20 minutes but Martin Dubravka calmly dealt with the danger in the penalty area. Romeu followed up but blazed it over the top.
Dubravka was called into action again mid-way through the first half but he made a fine block to deny Broja after narrowing the angle. But a soft goal - based on Newcastle's recent high standards - handed the home team the lead on 25 minutes. Kyle Walker-Peters crossed the ball in from the left found Che Adams who saw his knock down deflected into the path of Stuart Armstrong who headed home from close range.
However, the advantage lasted just seven minutes as Bruno started a move in midfield, linking up well with Murphy before Fraser and Shelvey combined to set up the equaliser.
A diagonal ball into the box from Shelvey found Chris Wood and the New Zealand international looped a header past 6ft 7in Fraser Forster who was rooted to the spot.
The joy of the goal was shared within the squad with even the subs, warming up in the corner, joining in the celebrations.
If a warning from the home side was needed it arrived on 38 minutes as Che Adams blasted an effort off the crossbar leaving the woodwork quivering and Dubravka beaten all ends up. But thankfully it bounced to safety. The first half ended with Bruno putting in a good cross for Joe Willock but he headed high over the bar.
But Newcastle made no mistake after the break with a goal of insane quality. First Murphy won a corner before the ball was swung in by Targett with Burn heading it perfectly into the path of Bruno who back-heeled it venomously past Forster.
As the three January signings combined the strong black and white contingent were sent into raptures at St Mary's.
A brief injury scare unfolded as Bruno went down and needed some treatment before the former Lyon star was replaced by Sean Longstaff mid-way through the second half. One of Longstaff's former Academy team-mates entered the field next with Adam Armstrong replacing Broja for the final 17 minutes.
The Geordie striker quickly got into the action and steered a shot just wide of the target. And Newcastle were indebted to Dubravka again when he palmed Tino Livramento's fizzing cross over the bar.
Miguel Almiron entered the slick St Mary's surface with five minutes to go and made his 100th appearance in the Premier League for the Magpies. Almiron replaced Fraser for the closing stages.
Dubravka was called back into action again when he clawed Salisu's close range effort to safety. A late stinging effort from Stuart Armstrong flew over the top but Newcastle held on for the points and net another fine away win.
At the end of the game, players tossed their shirts into the away end and Newcastle move on to Chelsea nine matches unbeaten. A night to remember? That's an understatement.
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