The Steve McClaren era at Newcastle United got underway with a 2-2 draw against Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Saints took the lead through Graziano Pelle's early header, but the match was level before half time as the Magpies found an equaliser through Papiss Cisse.
A debut goal from Georginio Wijnaldum put the hosts in front in the second period, but Southampton left with a point thanks to a late header from substitute Shane Long.
Find out how all of the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text coverage of the Premier League opening-weekend clash between Newcastle United and Southampton at St James' Park. Both managers have named their starting XIs, so we'll have team news for you in just a moment...
Newcastle: Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Obertan, Cisse
Southampton: Stekelenburg, Soares, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett, Davis, Wanyama, Tadic, Mane, Rodriguez, Pelle
Newcastle have named two debutantes in their starting lineup this afternoon, with Chancel Mbemba taking up a place in the defence and Georginio Wijnaldum (below) operating as an attacking midfielder, providing support for Gabriel Obertan and Papiss Cisse.
Fellow summer signing Aleksandar Mitrovic has been handed a place on the bench alongside Cheick Tiote, who was a major fitness doubt ahead of the game. Fabricio Coloccini is something of a surprise starter for the Magpies as he underwent assessment for an Achilles problem ahead of kickoff.
None of Southampton's three main summer captures have made the starting XI. Jordy Clasie (below) is missing through injury, while Spanish striker Juanmi has been named on the substitutes bench, along with on-loan defender Steven Caulker.
The good news for Saints fans is that Jay Rodriguez is fit to start alongside Graziano Pelle. He was plagued by a knee ligament injury throughout pre-season, but appears to have shaken that off. Ryan Bertrand, Gaston Ramirez, Florin Gardos and Fraser Forster are all sidelined.
It should be an interesting game this afternoon. Southampton have the better record over Newcastle in recent years, winning their last three matches against the Magpies, but the form guide often goes out of the window on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
Looking at the bigger picture, Newcastle have won 22 of their 57 previous matches against today's opposition, while the Saints have won 21, and 14 have resulted in draws. There's little to separate them overall.
There are a few other factors to consider - this is actually Southampton's third competitive match of the season following their two-legged victory over Vitesse Arnhem in the Europa League. On the one hand, beating the Dutch side will have given them a boost, but European football is known to take its toll.
Saints boss Ronald Koeman is absent from the touchline today after rupturing his Achilles tendon. It's not often your hear about managers picking up injuries, is it? Nevertheless, he's been tweeting his support to his players and coaching staff.
PREDICTION: With so many variables to take into account, this is a difficult one to call, but I think the visitors will edge it 2-1. I believe that the Saints's water-tight defence and superior record against Newcastle in recent years will be the deciding factors today.
Pre-match quotes from each manager coming up...
McClaren: "Southampton had a good season last season and they got into Europe but I think that will hinder them as the season goes on. But does it at the beginning? I don't think so, because they have started their competitive games earlier and they have got into that rhythm."
Soton assistant boss Erwin Koeman: "If you play Europa League, don't complain - you have to be happy that you can play in it and happy that you start on Sunday in the Premier League. Football does not sleep - it lives every day. Before you know it, it's Sunday so we have to prepare ourselves very well because that's a totally different game from the two against Vitesse."
Just over five minutes to go until kickoff now, and if you have that time to kill, why not take a look over our preview of today's game? You can find that here.
KICKOFF! Newcastle and Southampton's Premier League season is underway as the match kicks off at St James' Park. The Saints start proceedings as Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle exchange passes.
Victor Wanyama plays a long ball from inside the Newcastle half, looking to pick out Dusan Tadic, but he puts far too much on it and it ends up going behind for a Newcastle goalkick.
Half-chance for Newcastle as Wijnaldum swings a low ball into the Southampton box. Obertan does his best to connect with it, but the ricochet is calmly collected by Stekelenburg in the Saints goal. It was a poor delivery from Wijnaldum, who did not get enough height on that cross.
There's a let off for Newcastle at the other end as they give the ball away cheaply, allowing Rodriguez to collect in the danger air and sail a lofted pass towards Pelle in the box - but he puts too much behind it, and the ball bounces out for a Magpies throw.
CHANCE! Newcastle almost draw first blood through Wijnaldum after superb play by Sissoko. The latter went on a great run and left Yoshida for dead before picking out the Dutchman in the centre of the box. Wijnaldum lets fly, but a vital block from Davis in front of goal keeps us at 0-0.
Newcastle looking the more dangerous at the moment as Sissoko goes on another mazy run and floats a cross into a packed Saints box. Cedric clears his lines and grinds the Newcastle attack to a halt.
BOOKING! The first yellow of the afternoon goes to Cedric Soares for pulling back Gini Wijnaldum. He can have no complaints about that, especially considering the referee gave him a warning for a similar offence moments earlier.
GREAT SAVE! Tim Krul pulls off a top save at point-blank range to keep out Cedric, who latched onto a ball over the top from Tadic inside the box and had a go from an acute angle. The Dutch keeper raced off his line to snuff out the danger and prevent his side from falling behind.
SHOT! There's a chance at the other end moments later as Newcastle break and find Cisse in a good position. He gets a sight at goal and shoots from distance, but his effort is straight at Stekelenburg.
A half-chance for the Saints as they force a corner through Tadic. His opportunist cross deflects behind for a corner, which is dealt with well by Coloccini under pressure from Rodriguez, who would surely have capitalised had the Argentine not ushered the ball out for a goalkick.
Cedric is looking like a liability for Southampton. He's already on a booking and has just received another warning from the ref for bringing down Haidara, conceding a free kick in a dangerous position in the process.
PENALTY APPEAL! Wijnaldum plays the resulting free kick into the box and tenacious play from Coloccini keeps the chance alive. He nods the ball on and it appears to clip the arm of Yoshida. The Newcastle skipper wants a penalty but the referee isn't interested. The Southampton defender is a lucky man.
GOAL! Newcastle United 0-1 Southampton (Graziano Pelle)
Southampton edge their noses in front as Graziano Pelle places a header into the bottom corner. Cedric's cross found the Newcastle defence ball watching and the Italian was on hand to nod beyond Krul with his first meaningful touch of the game!
Newcastle looked into control before the Italian's third goal of the season pegged them back. It was a wonderful ball in from Cedric and an equally good header, but McClaren will be asking a few questions about his defence.
Newcastle look for an immediate response as they go on the offensive through Cisse, who forces a corner as his first-time strike from Sissoko's pass deflects behind off Jack Colback.
ANOTHER PENALTY APPEAL! Newcastle call for a penalty again as the corner comes in and Sissoko's flick-on appears to strike Rodriguez on the arm. The referee waves away the protests once again and the home crowd are incensed.
Newcastle's defensive pairing of Mbemba and Coloccini are struggling to contain Rodriguez and Pelle, who are getting the service they need from Cedric and Tadic. Counter-attacking football looks like the Magpies' best bet for getting back into this, but they need to tighten up at the back.
CHANCE! Rodriguez heads harmlessly wide at the Newcastle end and the Magpies break furiously straight from the restart. It falls kindly for Coloccini following a corner, but the Newcastle skipper's effort is hacked off the line by Steven Davis.
Great work by Obertan on the left, who beats his full-back and crosses low, but Stekelenburg races off his line to make the interception.
GOAL! Newcastle United 1-1 Southampton (Papiss Cisse)
Newcastle are on level terms and there's an element of good fortune about their equaliser. Wijnaldum plays a short corner to Haidara and his cross takes a wicked defection off Mane to wrong-foot Stekelenburg and gift Cisse with one of the easiest tap-ins he'll ever score. We're level at 1-1!
Just one minute of stoppage time to be played here at St James' Park, and Southampton intend to use it to their advantage. Cedric reaches the byline and floats a cross in towards Tadic, who heads over from close range.
HALF TIME: Newcastle United 1-1 Southampton
The referee blows from half time at St James' Park. Graziano Pelle headed Southampton in front before Papiss Cisse drew the Magpies level three minutes before the break. You can find a summary describing how the first half unfolded in our half-time report.
I'd say 1-1 is a fair reflection of the first half. Newcastle look vulnerable at the back and Southampton were able to exploit that, but the Magpies were dangerous on the counter-attack and gave as good as they got. The next goal could well decide this contest.
KICKOFF! We're back underway at St James' Park. One change for Southampton at the break - Cuco Martina on for Cedric. No doubt that's because the right-back had picked up a booking and was looking like a liability.
SAVE! Another exceptional save from Krul maintains the parity as Yoshida gets his head to a free kick from Davis inside the six-yard box. Newcastle were all over the place defensively, but a reaction save from their shot-stopper keeps Yoshida out at close range.
GOAL! Newcastle United 2-1 Southampton (Georginio Wijnaldum)
Newcastle are in front for the first time this afternoon and it's a debut goal for Georginio Wijnaldum. Gabriel Obertan surges down the right flank and provides an inviting cross for the Dutchman to head beyond Stekelenburg and send the home fans into a frenzy.
Southampton are under the cosh now! Newcastle look to press home their advantage as Obertan lets fly from long range, flashing a shot wide of Stekelenburg's goal.
Newcastle have really grown into this match and are more for confident on the ball. Mbemba is maintaining possession much more effectively and McClaren's side continue to look dangerous on the break.
BOOKING! Newcastle's Jack Colback becomes the second man to go into the referee's notebook for bringing down Mane. He fouled his opponent three times in the space of a few seconds there, so I'm not sure which offence the yellow card was for.
Tighter defending from the Magpies as Janmaat beats Rodriguez to a flick-on from Pelle and heads the ball back to Krul. Southampton still look like a threat going forward, but Newcastle look better equipped to deal with them.
BOOKING! Jose Fonte gets a yellow for a foul on Moussa Sissoko, handing Newcastle a free kick in a dangerous position. The cross sails in towards the far post, but Southampton quickly clear their lines.
CHANCE! Mane races clear of the Newcastle defence and lets fly, but Krul is equal to the shot, pushing it behind for a corner. Tadic finds Fonte from the resulting set piece, but the defender's header loops harmlessly over the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: Southampton throw on Shane Long to replace Rodriguez in a like-for-like swap upfront. I suspect Rodriguez was fatigued in his first game since returning from a lengthy injury layoff.
SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle's first change is an enforced one as Cheikh Tiote replaces Vurnon Anita, who goes off to a standing ovation on a stretcher after picking up an injury.
McClaren's side surges forward once again as Haidara attempts to pick out Wijnaldum's run inside the penalty area, but the Dutchman times it wrong, allowing Targett to track back and clear his lines.
SUBSTITUTION: Aleksandar Mitrovic replaces Cisse to make his Newcastle debut, and he picks up a yellow card for a rash challenge on Matt Targett within seconds. That's one way to make your mark on the English game.
GOAL! Newcastle United 2-2 Southampton (Shane Long)
Southampton are level and we've just had our third headed goal of the afternoon as Shane Long nods home a Dusan Tadic cross from close range. The Irishman got the better of Janmaat inside the box to restore parity. Will there be another twist in this one? Stay tuned to find out...
The worrying thing about that goal as far as Newcastle are concerned is that they invited the Saints to attack by dropping deeper and deeper as time progressed. That isn't a tactic you want to employ when your defence leaks goals.
SUBSTITUTION: One Dutchman replaces another as Siem de Jong comes on for Wijnaldum. The former gets a good reception after spending much of last season out injured.
Shane Long tries his luck from distance, but it goes high and wide. There could yet to be winner in this one, but the Irishman wasn't going to find it from there.
BOOKING! Steven Davis is shown the yellow card for a foul on Massadio Haidara, adding a black mark to an otherwise-exceptional afternoon for him.
A great piece of defending from Chancel Mbemba keeps out Pelle in front of goal. A cross comes in from the right from Tadic, but the Newcastle defender didn't give the Italian an inch inside the box, using his strength to hold him off and beating him to the header. He can't prevent a corner, though.
More top-drawer defensive work from Newcastle as Colback produces a last-ditch block to deny Mane a match-winning goal. Mane cut inside and let fly from just inside the box, only to be thwarted by a great interception.
CHANCE! There's a let-off for Newcastle right at the death as Mane gets in behind Coloccini to go clean through on goal, only to completely miss the target with only Krul to beat. What a glaring miss!
FULL TIME: Newcastle United 2-2 Southampton
The Steve McClaren era at Newcastle United begins with a 2-2 draw against Southampton, and the former Derby Country boss can take plenty of positives from his side's performance. It was fair result in the end, both sides giving as good as they got throughout.
Three out of four goals came from headers this afternoon, with Southampton substitute Shane Long finding the net in the 79th minute to ensure the game ended in a draw. You can find out how the 90 minutes unfolded with our match report here.
That's all we have time for at St James' Park, but be sure to stick with Sports Mole for match analysis, player ratings, and reaction from today's game. Many thanks for joining us.
