Cameras picked up Eddie Howe arriving with Amanda Staveley to watch Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion. While he is not officially in charge of the Magpies, all signs point to the former Bournemouth manager’s imminent appointment. The scale of the task ahead of him would have been crystal clear for two-thirds of the game. After Newcastle equalised, Howe may have noted the battling qualities he will need to magnify and hone if he is to keep this team in the Premier League.
Brighton presented an aerial threat early on, with Shane Duffy going closest from a corner. Graham Potter’s side took control from the start, passing well while Newcastle looked content to sit back and invite pressure. Brighton were patient in possession, trying to carve openings in their static opponents, unburdened by any pressure from the passive away side.
Their patience was rewarded when Leandro Trossard swerved and pivoted into the box. Ciaran Clark arrived with a mistimed challenge, his leg making contact with Trossard’s knee. The Belgian appeared to go down softly, and there was a long VAR review before a penalty was awarded. Newcastle protested, and the call could have gone either way in truth. There was definite contact, but it was arguable whether this was enough to bring the forward down.
Trossard stepped up to take the spot kick, and cooly tucked it away to give his side the lead. They nearly doubled the advantage minutes later, when Tariq Lamptey didn’t get quite enough contact on a Joel Veltman cross. By this point, it was one-way traffic, with the home crowd giving their side ‘Ole!’ chants after every pass. The closest Newcastle came to a memorable moment was Allan Saint-Maximin drawing a block on the line from an offside position.
After being the lightning rod of the first half, Trossard nearly had a decisive say early in the second. The former Genk man drew a solid save from Karl Darlow with a chance just after the break. Tariq Lamptey continued what had been a great display, keeping up the constant threat he offered down the right flank. With Marc Cucurella operating on the left, Brighton were able to effectively stretch Newcastle’s defence.
Man of the moment Eddie Howe in the stands watching his soon-to-be new club ⚫⚪
A wonderful passing move carved the visitor’s open, with both wing-backs involved in the fast break. Newcastle snuffed the trouble out when Lamptey’s cross was blocked, as was substitute Alexis Mac Allister’s shot on the rebound. Against the run of play, Newcastle then hit back. Matt Ritchie’s cross was headed down by Clark, before being tidily finished by Isaac Hayden. Equalising appeared to light a fire under Newcastle, and caretaker manager Graeme Jones could be seen firing up his players on the touchline.
With the away fans backing them, Newcastle showed a lot more fight. They still lack a ruthless quality in the final third, but they grew into the game as Graham Potter’s team seemed to shrink. The rhythm and speed of Brighton’s earlier play was gone, as Newcastle pressed on for an unlikely win. Jonjo Shelvey went searching for Callum Wilson, with a brilliant ball from deep that was scruffily dealt with by a weary Brighton defence. He tried the same route again a minute later, but goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was equal to it.
There was a late flashpoint as Wilson went clean through before appearing to be brought down. Sanchez rushed out and tripped the striker, and a lengthy VAR check led to the goalkeeper being sent off. Lewis Dunk would don the gloves for the remainder of added time, but Newcastle were unable to exploit this as the game ended 1-1.
