Newcastle 4 – 1 Brighton


Newcastle need just one win to secure a return to the Champions League group stage for the first time in 20 years after claiming a 4-1 victory over a lackluster Brighton at St James’ Park.

The Magpies are now four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with just two games to play, meaning they will finish in the top four if they beat Leicester on Monday – live on Sky Sports – or Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on May 28.

Eddie Howe’s side were utterly dominant in the first half and thoroughly deserved their two-goal lead thanks to Deniz Undav’s own goal and Dan Burn’s header.

Undav made up for his error by halving the deficit early in the second half, but late goals from Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes handed Brighton their second heavy defeat in their last three matches and all but ended their hopes of a top-four finish.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Deniz Undav headed Kieran Trippier’s inswinger into his own net to give Newcastle the lead

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Dan Burn nodded Newcastle into a two-goal lead

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Deniz Undav slotted home after Billy Gilmour’s tremendous through-ball

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Callum Wilson raced away to wrap up Newcastle’s win over Brighton

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Bruno Guimaraes added a late fourth for Newcastle

Race for Europe

  • Newcastle are third, four points above fifth-placed Liverpool and will secure a Champions League place with one win from their last two games
  • Brighton are eight points off fourth-placed Manchester United with three games to play, leaving their hopes of a top-four spot looking highly unlikely
  • Roberto De Zerbi’s side are one point ahead of seventh-placed Tottenham and have a game in hand, meaning two wins from their last three games will guarantee a Europa League spot

How Newcastle strode towards the Champions League

Newcastle United celebrate after Brighton and Hove Albion's Deniz Undav scores an own goal
Image:
Newcastle celebrate after Undav’s own goal gave them the lead

Brighton’s stunning 3-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday came on the back of a surprise 5-1 thrashing at home by Everton and, combined with Newcastle taking just one point from their past two matches, it meant the meeting of the two European hopefuls was hard to call before kick off.

But Newcastle made a mockery of those suggestions throughout a highly-impressive opening 45 minutes during which they continually prevented Brighton from playing out from their own half.

team news

  • Newcastle were unchanged from the draw at Leeds last time out, although Jacob Murphy dropped out of the squad with a groin injury
  • Brighton made four changes from the side that won at Arsenal in their last game, with Jan Paul van Hecke, Facundo Buonanotte, Danny Welbeck and Deniz Undav replacing Levi Colwill, Julio Enciso, Alexis Mac Allister and Evan Ferguson

The hosts saw Lewis Dunk clear the ball of his own line and block a Joelinton shot over the bar before they eventually took the lead, undav glancing Kieran Trippier’s corner into his own goal.

Burn went close from another Trippier corner before finding the net in first-half stoppage time, rising highest to guide a header into the bottom corner for his first Newcastle goal in the Premier League against his former club.

Miguel Almiron should have put the game to bed but saw his volley saved by Jason Steele, only for Billy Gilmour to pick out Undav moments later, with Newcastle leaving a gaping hole in their defense which the striker gratefully took advantage of to halve the deficit.

Deniz Undav celebrates scoring for Brighton vs Newcastle
Image:
Undav celebrates scoring for Brighton after Billy Gilmour’s pass

Julio Enciso then went close with a header as the nerves started to build around St James’ Park, but Wilson hit Brighton with a sucker punch as the second half headed towards added time, beating the offside trap to burst clear and score past Steele at his near post.

The striker then set up Guimaraes for another just moments later and could have made it five as Brighton’s defense fell apart, only for Steele to come out on top.

While Newcastle are now within touching distance of the Champions League, Brighton will turn their attention to qualifying for the Europa League, with the Seagulls sixth, one point above Tottenham and holding a game in hand.

What’s next?

newcastle have two more Premier League games to play this season and are back on Sky Sports on Monday Night Football when they host leicester next week; kick off 8pm. Their final game of the season will be at Chelsea on Sunday May 28; kick off 4.30pm.

Monday 22nd May 7:00pm

Kickoff 8:00pm


Brighton play three more games before the end of the campaign. They host relegated southampton on Sunday – kick off 2pm – before hosting Manchester City on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports; kick off 8pm.

Wednesday 24th May 7:00pm

Kickoff 8:00pm


Brighton’s final game of the season sees them travel to AstonVilla on Sunday May 28; kick off 4.30pm.

Opta stats: Newcastle rolling back the years

  • Newcastle have won 69 points in the Premier League this season, 20 more than they won last season and their most in a campaign since 2002-03 (also 69).
  • Brighton have now lost two of their last three Premier League games against Newcastle (D1), having lost none of their first nine against them (W4 D5).
  • Newcastle have now scored 67 goals in the Premier League this season, their most in a top-flight campaign since scoring 74 in 2001-02 under Sir Bobby Robson.
  • Callum Wilson scored his 18th Premier League goal of the season for Newcastle, the most by a Magpies player in a season since Alan Shearer scored 22 in 2003-04. Since the start of April, Wilson has netted 11 Premier League goals, three more than any other player.
  • Six different Brighton players have scored an own goal in the Premier League this season (Mac Allister, Dunk, Webster, Gross, Steele and Undav), the first time a team has had as many as six different own-goal scorers in a season since Middlesbrough in 2008-09 (Huth, Pogatetz, Hoyte, Wheater, Turnbull, McMahon).
  • Joelinton committed eight fouls in this match, the most by a Premier League player in a match since Andre Gomes in October 2019 for Everton vs West Ham. He didn’t receive a booking, the most by a player without receiving a yellow or red card since Alessandro Diamanti committed eight fouls in a game for West Ham versus Blackburn in January 2010.