[Sport] Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl told his side to believe "anything is possible" after they went top of the Premier League for the first time ever.

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Just over a year on from a 9-0 home humiliation by Leicester, which left the Austrian in danger of being sacked, he guided Saints to the summit of the English top flight for the first time since 1988 with a comfortable victory over Newcastle.

"Our fans will love it and they'll make a picture of the table," Hasenhuttl said.

"For us it's nice but it shouldn't kill the hunger for more. We should stay hungry and we should feel anything is possible with this team.

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Reaction as Southampton go top of the Premier League
"I must be very proud. We developed not with a lot of invested money but with a lot of invested work.

"We had some good results in the past two or three months and it was important everyone can see the philosophy we are following can be successful.

"Everyone was on the highest level and it's a little bit scary what we're doing at the moment. But it's not surprising because I see them working."

It was a dominant performance for Hasenhuttl's side, who moved the ball well and deservedly ran out winners after Che Adams' superb first-half volley and Stuart Armstrong's drilled effort late on.

Newcastle, who remain 11th in the table, were the exact opposite and contributed to their defeat by carelessly losing the ball in dangerous positions for both goals.

"The goals we gave away probably summed up our evening," said Magpies manager Steve Bruce.

"We gave it away far too cheaply and far too often. We were a shadow of the team I saw against Everton."

No Ings, no problem
With top scorer Danny Ings injured Saints fans could have been forgiven for wondering just where their goals were going to come from.

Ings, whose impressive early-season form led to an England recall five years after his last cap, had been responsible for 36% of Southampton's goals prior to this fixture after forming an effective partnership with Adams.

So, in his absence it was hardly a surprise to see Adams assume more responsibility, with Theo Walcott - back at his first club on loan from Everton after 15 years away - cast in a supporting central role.

Only an excellent save from Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow prevented Adams from scoring with a curling effort towards the top right corner.