Bruno in the middle as Newcastle fans bask in football sunshine

All morning the rain had been lashing down in Southampton.

For those making the long trip from Newcastle for the Premier League clash at St Mary’s, perhaps the overcast conditions could have hinted at a grim day on the south coast.

After all, this is what they have been used to for years, literally and figuratively.

But then, just before kickoff, the rain stopped, the clouds scattered, the sun found a way through. And, quite poignantly, it seemed to be shining only on those standing in the away end.

In truth, the Newcastle fans have been basking in footballing sunshine all season.

The club, the team and the supporters are these days emerging from what seemed like a 15-year storm, and it all came together gloriously for them on Sunday.

Eddie Howe’s team had carried the improvement, and great escape, from last season, into this one, and week by week, match by match, they have exceeded expectations.

Going into their match against Southampton, Newcastle had won five out of six matches and were sitting fourth in the table. In hindsight, six out of seven — and the lofty heights of third place — now seems inevitable.

But never mind hindsight, the travelling support had started the party some time before the kickoff. And throughout the afternoon, one that at points delivered prosaic football punctuated by moments of inspiration on the pitch, in the stands the noise and spectacle of sheer bravado never relented.

Several journalists witnessing a Premier League match for the first time were genuinely taken aback by what they were seeing.

The first half hour saw plenty of effort — and one clear chance — from a desperately out of form Southampton, with Newcastle seemingly not hitting the heights of recent performances.

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