Another brace from skipper Alan Shearer kept the Magpies assault on the Premiership title alive and kicking as they overcame tricky opposition in the shape of Gordon Strachan's Southampton.
A 3-1 scoreline flattered Newcastle who found the Saints midfield a difficult nut to crack in the opening 20 minutes.
It took a 35-yard Laurent Robert free-kick to open the scoring and then Shearer quickly followed up on 29 minutes, heading home a Nolberto Solano corner to make it 2-0.
Saints hit back when Paul Telfer's cross from the right was flicked on by Marsden, ending up at the feet of Latvian Marian Pahars, who swept home from six yards to pull the Saints back into the game.
As half-time approached Bellamy went down in the box under pressure form Claus Lundekvam and referee Barry Knight pointed to the spot.
Shearer did the rest to make it 3-1 and the second half both the skipper and Craig Bellamy hit the post before Paul Jones pulled off a fine save from Nolberton Solano.
The biggest cheer of the day came with a quarter of an hour left when new £5m man Jermaine Jenas made his first apearance in a black and white shirt.
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