- Newcastle United end winless run against Brighton
- William Osula and Dan Burn on the scoresheet for Magpies
- Jack Hinshelwood goal makes for cagey ending
Newcastle United have loved throwing away leads in the Premier League this season, but finally managed to cling on and pick up a huge three points against Brighton on Saturday afternoon.
Eddie Howe’s side ended a run of five defeats across all competitions with victory over the Seagulls, but made it a nervy watch for St James’ Park. William Osula and Dan Burn fired the side into a 2-0 lead after 24 minutes.
Newcastle dropped the pace after the break with Jack Hinshelwood pouncing on some stand-offish defending. Brighton pressed for a leveller and it wasn’t until Harvey Barnes rifled home in the final minute of stoppage time that Howe will have felt home and dry. Here’s how the Newcastle United players rated.
Newcastle United player ratings v Brighton
GK – Nick Pope, 5
Not convincing. Made a brilliant reflex save from close range against Kaoru Mitoma in the second half and will earn plaudits for that. Did release the ball well and quickly early on but distribution was poor after the break and didn’t help Newcastle get out of their own half. Lucky not to see a shoddy clearance ricochet in off Hinshelwood.
LB – Dan Burn, 7
Turned heads again when named on the teamsheet ahead of Lewis Hall. Answered those doubts with a goal. Burn peeled away from his marker well and powered the header home. Never quite had the pacy Yankuba Minteh in his pocket.
CB – Malick Thiaw, 8
Slow and flat-footed for the Brighton goal, which is a shame as it was otherwise an imperious performance at the heart of defence. Almost found the back of the net after 30 minutes and should maybe have done better from close range.
CB – Sven Botman, 7
Confident showing. Also a little slow in reacting to the first-touch passing for the Brighton goal, but that was a nice move from the visitors.
RB – Lewis Miley, 8
Looked very comfortable again playing out of position. Mitoma is no easy customer but Miley looked thoroughly impressive.
CM – Sandro Tonali, 5
Tonali could have offered a lot more today. Where other Newcastle players did step up the intensity, the Italy international did not. The Magpies needed the midfielder to help gain control in the centre of the park in the second half and he struggled to do that.
CM – Bruno Guimaraes, 8
Where did the change in Newcastle United intensity come early on? Likely from Guimaraes. Top notch delivery from set plays, one of which Burn finished off. Also played a lovely lobbed pass into the path of Jacob Murphy ahead of the opener. The metronome in the side.
CM – Joelinton, 7
Newcastle do have more edge with big Joelinton in the centre of the park. Fought hard to keep the ball at his feet in midfield and set play in motion for the first goal. Brilliant stride forward in injury time and really should have squared to Harvey Barnes.
LW – Joe Willock, 6
Some good moments and showed promising link-up play with Osula. Helped drive the team forwards to win the corner kick that led to the second goal. Needs to carry more of a goal threat.
ST – William Osula, 9
Hard to find fault with Osula today. A third goal in four matches, perhaps this is a story of an underdog overperforming rather than marquee signings not hitting their levels? Set the tempo early with his running and was in the right place at the right time to head home the first. Missed an early chance against Arsenal last weekend but ensured he was raring to go from the off today. Superb.
RW – Jacob Murphy, 7
Deserves credit for his never-say-die attitude prior to the first Newcastle goal. Murphy could easily have stayed down and played for a free-kick when clattered into by Bart Verbruggen, but was aware of Osula in the middle and got up to put a peach of a cross on his forehead. Does need to carry more of a regular threat, rather than drifting in and out of the match.
SUBS – Lewis Hall (6), Harvey Barnes (7), Yoane Wissa (5), Jacob Ramsey (N/A).
In other news, Fabrizio Romano update on £55m Newcastle United star puts Arsenal and Man Utd on ‘red alert’.
