Newcastle United have rescued a point against Brighton to maintain their push for a place in the Champions League following a 1-1 draw at the Amex.
Yankuba Minteh opened the scoring for Brighton against his former club with a deflected effort before the half-hour mark, but Alexander Isak equalised from the spot late on.
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Here are five things we learned from the game.
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Alexander Isak steps up when Newcastle need him most
It was a case of third-time lucky for Newcastle. After two penalty decisions were given and reversed in the second half, Craig Pawson’s third stood after Fabian Schar’s free-kick struck the hand of Yasin Ayari in the Brighton wall in the 89th minute. Up stepped Alexander Isak to take the spot-kick.
Newcastle United fans celebrating cup win outside St James’ Park
Newcastle United fans celebrating cup win outside St James’ Park
Isak had only had a solitary touch inside the Brighton box up to that point, during an otherwise frustrating afternoon, but Newcastle’s top scorer showed remarkable composure when his side needed him most to sit Bart Verbruggen down and send the Brighton goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 1-1.
Rather than punching the air in front of the away end behind the goal, Isak immediately attempted to wrestle the ball from the arms of Verbruggen, who was not letting go, even after Callum Wilson arrived on the scene and Harvey Barnes pushed the goalkeeper. That was the cue for angry Brighton captain Lewis Dunk to grab Barnes by the collar of his shirt and give the Newcastle forward a piece of his mind.
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The message was clear as nine minutes of stoppage time were added on: rather than settling for one point, Newcastle wanted all three. There was still time for Wilson to force Verbruggen into a huge one-handed save with a venomous strike while Brighton also had the chance to win it late on only for Diego Gomez to, somehow, head wide.
Alexander Isak levels it up for Newcastle United against Brighton
Alexander Isak levels it up for Newcastle United against Brighton
Yankuba Minteh haunts visitors again
It was a game of few clear cut chances – and Brighton took theirs in the first half.
There was less than half an hour on the clock when Yankuba Minteh took a touch inside Tino Livramento and then sold Sandro Tonali with a feint after the Italy international turned his back to block what he thought was going to be a shot. Minteh had the glimpse of goal he needed to let fly from inside the box and the Brighton forward’s effort took a deflection off Dan Burn’s head and wrongfooted Nick Pope.
Rather than celebrating, at first, Minteh turned to the away end behind the goal and clapped his hands together apologetically – just as the 20-year-old did after scoring at St James’ Park in the FA Cup a couple of months ago. However, as Minteh turned to walk back to his own half, the Gambian wagged his finger, repeatedly pointed to the turf and then kissed the badge after ignoring Mats Wieffer, who pushed his team-mate towards the centre circle in an effort to get him focused on the restart.
Brighton and Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh (second right) scores their side’s first goal of the game
A potentially huge point
Brighton were not necessarily in the greatest run of form but Newcastle have never won a Premier League game at the Amex. In fact, the Magpies have only beaten Brighton twice in all competitions since the Seagulls were promoted in 2017. No wonder Dan Burn felt like Newcastle owed his former side one before this game. “They have had our number down there and we’re at the stage of the season where the best teams go to places like that and get results,” the defender said.
It felt like an acid test at a crucial juncture in the race for the Champions League: could Newcastle show their mettle at their bogey ground? The stakes were certainly high.
Yet you would not necessarily have known it by the way Newcastle started this game. Newcastle were curiously toothless against a Brighton side who last kept a clean sheet in February. For all the possession the visitors enjoyed, Eddie Howe cut a frustrated figure on the touchline at various points as the Newcastle boss repeatedly clapped his hands and urged his side to quicken the tempo.
Newcastle United’s English head coach Eddie Howe talks to his players
Newcastle kept pushing, though, and the Magpies found a way to get something out of the game when it just so easily could have been one of those days at the Amex again. Newcastle have now claimed 19 points from losing positions and this draw – the Magpies’ first in five months – could yet prove a vital result, particularly given the black-and-whites’ superior goal difference on those sides below them.
Anthony Gordon could have big role to play in run-in
It did not take Anthony Gordon long to make an impression. In fact, the substitute made an instant impact after replacing Jacob Murphy in the 56th minute.
It was Gordon who ran at Tariq Lamptey in his first act and the England international appeared to win his side a penalty after he was clipped by the Brighton right-back. Referee Craig Pawson initially pointed to the spot, but VAR ruled that the contact took place outside the area so the penalty was instead downgraded to a free-kick.
Gordon remained calm, though, and nodded. After all, there was plenty of time left for Newcastle to draw level and, rather than panicking, the Magpies ultimately found a way to claim a point.
Whether Gordon starts or comes on against Chelsea next week, you can see why Eddie Howe has hailed the forward as a ‘massive player’ after he gave the visitors a shot in the arm from the bench.
Fabian Schar limps off before Chelsea showdown
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How this point will truly be judged will depend on how Newcastle fare against Chelsea next week. At the time of writing, Chelsea had taken the lead against much-changed Liverpool to move level on points with Newcastle in the live table.
Regardless of the result at Stamford Bridge, however, Newcastle have to make the most of the St James’ Park factor in their penultimate home game of the campaign next Sunday. A win would not only see Newcastle move three points clear of Chelsea – the Magpies would also land a huge psychological blow so late in the season.
Newcastle will obviously hope to have Fabian Schar available for the visit of the Blues, after the veteran limped off late on, but the black-and-whites will be able to turn to the fit-again Sven Botman if the centre-back does not make it.
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