He claims "fans want success immediately", but he has been at the club FOUR YEARS and we are no better off than when he first arrived.
Alan Pardew: "Sometimes, when you're at a club for a long time - and I'm the second longest serving manager in the Premier League now - it becomes a little more difficult, especially at a club of this size.
"People ask, 'Why haven't you won a trophy?', but we haven't won a trophy at this club since 1969. It's very, very difficult.
"I have to try to look at the bigger picture - a bigger picture than the local media and some of our fans - but I also understand there's an immediate world we live in. Immediate results are important, and I can't take my eye off that either.
"But by the same token, I do have to have a bigger vision.
"I think we've got better, and we're a stronger club than when I arrived, a lot stronger. I don't know how else you can gauge it."
Saturday September 13
12:45 Arsenal v Manchester City
15:00 Chelsea v Swansea City
15:00 Crystal Palace v Burnley
15:00 Southampton v Newcastle United
15:00 Stoke City v Leicester City
15:00 Sunderland v Tottenham
15:00 West Brom v Everton
17:30 Liverpool v Aston Villa
Sunday September 14
16:00 Man Utd v QPR
Monday September 15
20:00 Hull City v West Ham United
St Mary's Stadium
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are located in the Northam Stand at one end of the stadium, where normally up to 3,100 fans can sit. For cup games this allocation can be increased to 4,750. The view of the playing action and the facilities within this stand are excellent. Leg room is good, although the width of the seating seemed to be a bit narrower than other grounds (either that, or I am putting on weight!). The sizeable concourse behind the stand features a Ladbrokes, has TV's which show the game as it is played and a number of eating and drinking outlets. There are plenty of staff and the queues never seemed to get particularly long, which was a pleasant surprise. There is also a 'Pie & Pint' outlet, that as the name suggests, only serves beer and pies. Perhaps they should rename it as 'Heaven'!
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to St Mary's and would happily return. The stadium has (contrary to other reports) a great atmosphere and the facilities are first class. I particularly commend the Club for the friendliness of their staff, from the stewards to the catering staff. Even as I left the stadium, a steward wished me an enjoyable journey home! Considering that away supporters are almost treated with contempt at some other clubs, this was a refreshing change. Coupled with the relaxed attitude of the home supporters and the excellent facilities, then this to to me makes a visit to St Mary's one of the better days out in the League. Only one minor gripe though, is that away fans are searched before entering the stadium which obviously slows the entrance process down somewhat.
Phil Jones adds; 'There was an excellent view from all around the ground and the atmosphere was good. I was impressed by their having toilet facilities around the perimeter of the ground which are accessible prior to the turnstiles opening. Well done Southampton, it's the little touches like these, for the fans comfort and enjoyment of the day, which make all the difference'.
Where To Drink?
There are not many pubs located close to the stadium, so the choice for away fans is limited. There is the Waterfront Bar in William Street, which is an area called Shamrock Quay. You can visit the Waterfront Bar website for more details. Nic Hallam a visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers fan adds; 'In the Ocean Village we found "The Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis" public house. This large establishment had an an excellent choice of beers, friendly bar staff and a convivial mix of both home and away fans'.
Most fans seem to end up in the city centre before the game, where there are plenty of pubs to choose from. Paul Hunt a visiting Bristol City fan adds; 'On our last visit the Standing Order Wetherspoons outlet was for home fans only, with bouncers on the door. We ended up in Yates Wine Lodge in the central shopping area. There were also a lot of away fans in the Slug & Lettuce next door'. Away fans should avoid pubs along St Marys Street such as the Kingsland Tavern, Joiners and Isobar. Please remember though that if you do drink in the centre, that the stadium is a good twenty minute walk away. Otherwise alcohol is served within the ground.
How To Get There And Where To Park
From the M3 take the A33 into Southampton. Continue on the A33 until you reach the junction with the A3024 Northam Road and turn left onto this road towards Northam. Then turn right onto the B3038, Britannia Road for the stadium.
There is hardly any parking available at the stadium for away fans and there are parking restrictions in force for the local area. Most fans seem to be just heading for the city centre car parks and then embarking on the 15-20 minute walk to the stadium. I did this and parked in an NCP car park, which cost £5. I should point out though, that after the game the roads around the city centre become almost grid locked. It took me over an hour to get away afterwards.
Alternatively, on my last visit I noticed a number of fans parking around the Marina area and then taking the ten minute walk to the ground. Parking in this area has the advantage that at the end of the game, you can avoid the city centre gridlock, by heading along the coast on the A3024 and then onto the M271/M27. Steve Ship a visiting Crystal Palace fan also recommends it; 'The Marina is called the Ocean Village which has plenty of parking, but it does charge to park there (we paid £5 for five hours). It is no more than a ten minute walk to the stadium, has a pub on the complex (which had a decent mix of home and away supporters) as well as plenty of food outlets. We left at the final whistle and were back on the M27 within 20 minutes thus avoiding the congested town centre'.
Barry Sear suggests 'I parked in Woolston (on the other side of the Itchen Toll Bridge which costs 60p) where there is plenty of street parking, and made the 15-20 minute walk from there to the ground over the Itchen toll Bridge. To get there, you leave the M27 at Junction 8 and follow the A3025 to Woolston. I was back on the M27 within 10 minutes of getting back to the car'. Paul Bostock a visiting Burnley fan adds; 'There is a public car park (free for first 5 hours) located just south of the Woolston side access to the Itchen Bridge. It is on Oakbank Road and the entrance is at the junction of Bridge Road and Oakbank Road.
For those without the benefit of sat nav, as you approach the bridge along the A3025 there is a roundabout at the entrance to the toll booths, take first exit left onto Portsmouth Road down to the traffic lights, turn right into Bridge Road and the car park is immediately on the left. Across Oakbank Road are steps which take you up onto Itchen Bridge and St Marys is visible across the river to the right'.
Please note that the Park & Ride service is no longer in operation.
Post Code for SAT NAV: SO14 5FP
By Train
The stadium is located around one and a half miles away from Southampton station (where there is also quite a large car park), which should take about 30 minutes to walk. There is also a shuttle bus in operation taking fans from the station to the ground. This operates from the Blechynden Terrace bus stop outside the station.
Turn left out of the station' s southern entrance and walk up Western Esplanade, which becomes Civic Centre Road. Remain on the Civic Centre Road and walk between the Civic Centre and the Marlands Shopping Centre. Eventually a crossroads is reached with the Nationwide Building Society on one corner and Lloyds Bank on another. Cross into New Road and follow this road across a park and past a college. Eventually you will reach a complex road junction with a number of traffic lights. Cross Kings Way into Northam Road and follow this road for quarter of a mile until you reach the ground on your right. There are signs provided by the local council, which direct fans from the station to the ground.
Thanks to Scott Lydon, Jeff Manning & David Furnell for providing the directions.
You can also walk to the ground from St Denys Station, which is about a 25 minute walk away. This area also has some good pubs. Kay Wilkinson provides the following directions: 'Leave the station on the platform 4 (South Western Arms Pub side) and proceed past the pub, which is on your right hand side and continue on down this road, past the Junction Inn and over the Horseshoe Bridge (this goes over the railway.) Take the next left, Empress Road and follow this for about 3/4 of mile past various industrial units and round past Mount Pleasant School, which is on your right. At this T junction turn left into Mount Pleasant Road and walk over the railway (tip if the train gates are down use the footbridge - you can sometimes wait here for 20 minutes). You then continue along this road, which changes into Radcliffe Road, past the mosque on your right and this road will take you all the way down to the underpass to the Stadium. This is the most direct route. If you want to visit the Dolphin Pub mentioned above you exit the Station on Platform one side using the bridge across the road and the Dolphin is directly in front of you. To visit the Bevios Castle pub follow the directions into Dukes Road and half way down this road is a right turn, this will take you out into Bevios Valley, turn left and the pub is about 3 minutes walk away on a road junction on the right hand side. To get to St Marys from here you can either walk up the hill following the road continuously, past the hospital and the fire station on your left, when you reach the main road, Northam Road, cross and pass through the bridge to the ground. Alternatively you can walk down the hill and take the first right, Mount Pleasant Road and follow the directions as from St Denys Station above'.
Ian Knight adds; 'The South Western Arms and the Junction pubs near to St Denys Stadium are both excellent real ale outlets and are football fan friendly. The Junction also serves good food. Allow around 25 mins to get to the ground in good time. Basically you just follow the crowd, but recently the council have put in a rather pleasant boardwalk alongside the western bank of the River Itchen thus saving the walk over the railway bridge and down Empress Road to the level crossing at Mt Pleasant. The boardwalk comes out in a small industrial estate the stadium side of the level crossing. From there follow the directions above.'
SOUTHAMPTON v NEWCASTLE
2013/2014 Sat 29 Mar Southampton 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Sat 14 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Southampton Premier League
2012/2013 Sun 24 Feb Newcastle Utd. 4 - 2 Southampton Premier League
Sun 25 Nov Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
2005/2006 Sat 18 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Southampton F.A. Cup
2004/2005 Sat 15 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Southampton Premiership
Sun 19 Sep Southampton 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2003/2004 Wed 12 May Southampton 3 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 03 Jan Southampton 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 04 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Southampton Premiership
2002/2003 Sat 14 Dec Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 16 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Southampton Premiership
2001/2002 Sat 11 May Southampton 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 09 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Southampton Premiership
2000/2001 Tue 01 May Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Southampton Premiership
Sat 16 Sep Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1999/2000 Sun 16 Jan Newcastle Utd. 5 - 0 Southampton Premiership
Sun 15 Aug Southampton 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1998/1999 Sat 20 Feb Southampton 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 12 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Southampton Premiership
1997/1998 Sat 28 Mar Southampton 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 22 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Southampton Premiership
1996/1997 Sat 01 Mar Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Southampton Premiership
Sat 18 Jan Southampton 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1995/1996 Wed 17 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Southampton Premiership
Sat 09 Sep Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1994/1995 Wed 22 Mar Southampton 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 27 Aug Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Southampton Premiership
1993/1994 Sat 22 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Southampton Premiership
Sun 24 Oct Southampton 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1988/1989 Sat 01 Apr Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 17 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 3 Southampton First Division
1987/1988 Tue 01 Mar Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 26 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Southampton First Division
1986/1987 Sat 28 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Southampton First Division
Sat 04 Oct Southampton 4 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1985/1986 Sat 14 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Southampton First Division
Sat 17 Aug Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1984/1985 Sat 27 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Southampton First Division
Sat 24 Nov Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1973/1974 Tue 05 Feb Southampton 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 29 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Southampton First Division
1972/1973 Sat 14 Apr Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 09 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Southampton First Division
1971/1972 Sat 26 Feb Southampton 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 06 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Southampton First Division
1970/1971 Sat 20 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Southampton First Division
Sat 07 Nov Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1969/1970 Wed 11 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Southampton First Division
Sat 20 Sep Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1968/1969 Sat 15 Feb Southampton 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 30 Nov Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Southampton First Division
1967/1968 Sat 16 Dec Southampton 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 19 Aug Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Southampton First Division
1966/1967 Sat 29 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Southampton First Division
Sat 03 Dec Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1964/1965 Sat 19 Dec Southampton 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 29 Aug Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Southampton Second Division
1963/1964 Wed 18 Sep Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Wed 11 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Southampton Second Division
1962/1963 Sat 06 Apr Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Southampton Second Division
Sat 17 Nov Southampton 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1961/1962 Sat 10 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Southampton Second Division
Sat 23 Sep Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1947/1948 Sat 13 Mar Southampton 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 25 Oct Newcastle Utd. 5 - 0 Southampton Second Division
1946/1947 Sat 15 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Southampton Second Division
Sat 12 Oct Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1938/1939 Sat 28 Jan Southampton 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 24 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Southampton Second Division
1937/1938 Sat 19 Mar Southampton 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 06 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Southampton Second Division
1936/1937 Sat 10 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Southampton Second Division
Sat 05 Dec Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1935/1936 Sat 18 Apr Southampton 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 14 Dec Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Southampton Second Division
1934/1935 Sat 13 Apr Southampton 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 01 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Southampton Second Division
2013/14 SOUTHAMPTON 4 NEWCASTLE 0
SOUTHAMPTON
31. Artur Boruc
22. Calum Chambers
6. Jose Fonte
5. Dejan Lovren
23. Luke Shaw
18. Jack Cork
16. James Ward-Prowse
8. Steven Davis 73'
20. Adam Lallana 90'
9. Jay Rodriguez
7. Rickie Lambert 83'
Subs
4. Morgan Schneiderlin 73'
10. Gaston Ramirez 83'
21. Guly
25. Paulo Gazzaniga
26. Jos Hooiveld
38. Harrison Reed
40. Sam Gallagher 90'
NEWCASTLE
21. Rob Elliot
13. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 45'
6. Mike Williamson
2. Fabricio Coloccini
19. Massadio Haidara
8. Vurnon Anita
24. Cheick Tiote
10. Hatem Ben Arfa 45'
7. Moussa Sissoko 78'
11. Yoan Gouffran
9. Papiss Cisse
Subs
3. Davide Santon 45'
15. Dan Gosling
18. Luuk de Jong 45'
23. Shola Ameobi
27. Steven Taylor
36. Paul Dummett 78'
42. Jak Alnwick
In a match of many sub-plots it was another fine performance from Southampton's England contingent that will make the headlines after they comprehensively beat Newcastle.
Much of the build-up surrounded two men involved in high-profile incidents, with this match the first time former Saints boss Alan Pardew has been allowed into a stadium, albeit banned from the touchline, since head-butting Hull's David Meyler.
There was also scrutiny on referee Andre Marriner as he returned to action just a week after his embarrassing gaffe in Chelsea's win against Arsenal, although the main talking point after a fine 4-0 win for Saints was the display of their World Cup hopefuls.
Mauricio Pochettino's side created 14 chances in the first half alone, although it took until stoppage time in the first period for Jay Rodriguez to eventually find a way past the inspired Rob Elliot, making his first league start of the season.
Rickie Lambert unselfishly provided the assist for the opener and had one of his own soon four minutes into the second half, before Adam Lallana rifled home an outstanding 25-yard strike to put Saints out of sight.
The Saints captain appeared to be growing frustrated with Marriner's apparent attempt to avoid dishing out cards, with the referee only brandishing a yellow to Massadio Haidara with 14 minutes remaining.
The referee's display will no doubt be closely examined after a match which Saints managed to extra gloss through Rodriguez's fifth goal in four matches.
Victory looked likely from the outset and the home fans thought they had a goal to celebrate after eight minutes, only for it become clear Rodriguez's strike had hit the side netting.
The England forward powered a header just wide soon after, before Elliot prevented him directing home a Lambert cross with a fine save.
The Newcastle goalkeeper was getting no respite from his defence and produced a fine reaction save when Lambert went through one-on-one in the 16th minute and denied the England striker again soon after.
Lallana wasted a glorious chance by directing a looped Calum Chambers' header wide from close range as Saints continued to threaten.
Newcastle began to settle but, aside from a hopeful Yoan Gouffran prod goalwards, were creating little and looking shaky at the back.
Elliot had to pull off another incredible save to deny a close-range Rodriguez header before he finally found a way past the inspired Magpies keeper.
Lambert beat the offside trap to latch onto a Steven Davis ball over the top, bearing down on goal and squaring to the unmarked Rodriguez, whose effort may have been scuffed but finally beat Elliot.
Pardew will have no doubt given his players a dressing down at half-time and took off the ineffective Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Hatem Ben Arfa.
The introduction of Davide Santon and Luuk de Jong did little to stem the tide, though, with Haidara forced to head clear of danger shortly after the restart. It was not long until Southampton doubled their advantage, with Lallana cutting back and clipping over a fine ball to Lambert, who again beat the offside trap and stabbed past Elliot at his near post.
Moussa Sissoko flashed strike across the face of goal as he tried to give the 2,187 away fans to shout about, before Papiss Cisse somehow avoided retribution for a late challenge on Chambers.
Luke Shaw also hit the deck under after a Sissoko challenge but it was not until the 76th minute that Marriner finally dished out a card, giving Haidara a booking for a late challenge on James Ward-Prowse.
By that point, the match had been put to bed by a moment of magic from Lallana. Collecting the ball deep in the visitors' half, he pushed on and unleashed a wonderful 25-yard strike past Elliot.
Saints continued to press and the goalkeeper produced another wonderful save to tip over a Ward-Prowse follow-up strike after Rodriguez had hit the woodwork.
A wonderful Shaw block denied Gouffran grabbing a late consolation at the end of a match that got worse for the visitors when Rodriguez cut back and fired through Elliot's legs with a minute remaining.