Brighton travel up North hoping to upset another top side
18 MAY 2023 -
NEWCASTLE UNITED 4 ( Deniz Undav 1og, Dan Burn 1 Callum Wilson 1, Bruno Guimaraes 1 )
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 ( Deniz Undav 1 )
PREMIER LEAGUE
- at ST. JAMES' PARK, NEWCASTLE.
Following their excellent 3-0 win at Arsenal, the Seagulls were off on their travels again, this time to the North East to take on high-flying Newcastle United in the Premier at St.James' Park, "live" in front of the Sky Sports cameras and broadcast by Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made four changes to his starting line-up from the Arsenal game, with Jan Paul Van Hecke, Facundo Buonanotte, Deniz Undav and Danny Welbeck coming in for Levi Colwill (injured), Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson.
One got the impression that De Zerbi's team selection for this game was with the next game at home to Southampton in mind.
Last time out Newcastle drew 2-2 at Leeds United in the Premier on the 13 May and for Albion's visit Head Coach Eddie Howe named an unchanged starting line-up from that game.
Earlier this season, in the reverse fixture at the Amex on the 13 August 2022, the teams drew 0-0. In last season's meetings in the Premier, the teams drew 1-1 at the Amex on the 6 November 2021, with Leandro Trossard, penalty (34m) scoring for the Seagulls and Isaac Hayden (66m) replying for the Magpies. In the return fixture at St. James' Park on the 5 March 2022, Newcastle won 2-1, with their goals being scored by Ryan Fraser (12m) and Fabian Schar (14m) and Lewis Dunk (55m) netting for the Albion.
With their fans behind them, the Magpies made a whirlwind start and the Albion found it difficult to cope with the hosts early on, as a number of efforts flew close to the target. It was no surprise when the home side took the lead on 22 minutes when a corner taken by Kieran Trippier deflected off the head of the unfortunate Deniz Undav into the Albion net. 1-0. Former Albion player Dan Burn went close for the Magpies before Kaoru Mitoma, after a neat run, fired wide of the target.
It was no surprise when Newcastle doubled their lead in first-half time added on when Trippier's free-kick was headed home by Burn. 2-0. The scoreline at this stage reflected the home side's supremacy.
Half-time 2-0
Early in the second-half Albion keeper Jason Steele made a superb save to keep out a goal-bound shot from Miguel Almiron. To their credit Albion pulled a goal back on 51 minutes when Billy Gilmour played a through-ball to the on-running Undav who drove a low shot past Newcastle keeper Nick Pope to halve the deficit. 2-1
On 56 minutes De Zerbi made a triple substitution, bringing on his big guns, Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson for Billy Gilmour, Facundo Buonanotte and Danny Welbeck.
Steele saved again from Almiron and at the other end Enciso went close with a header from close-in. Cameron Peupion substituted for Undav on 85 minutes for his Albion Premier League debut. Newcastle clinched the three points on 89 minutes when a swift counter enabled Callum Wilson to slip the ball past the exposed Steele. 3-1.
Worse was to follow for the Seagulls in time added on when Wilson found Bruno Guimaraes in the clear and the midfielder calmly slotted the ball past Steele for Newcastle's fourth. 4-1. A bad night for the Albion at St. James' Park.
Final-score 4-1.
Stats:
Albion had 8 shots at goal, with 2 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 16.
Newcastle had 22 shots at goal, with 9 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 17.
VERDICT - The initial team selection showed that the Albion were looking beyond, to the Southampton game for the points to assist their European aspirations. Keeper Jason Steele's saves and some stout defending aided
Albion's cause on the night and kept the scoreline down.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Moises Caicedo, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross (Odeluga Offiah 69), Billy Gilmour (Alexis Mac Allister 56); Facunda Buonanotte (Julio Enciso 56), Deniz Undav (Cameron Peupion 85), Kaoru Mitoma; Danny Welbeck (Evan Ferguson 56).
Subs not used: Tom McGill (G/K), Yasin Ayari, Andrew Moran, Imari Samuels.
Newcastle United line-up (4-3-3):- Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier (Capt) Javier Manquillo (90+5), Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, Dan Burn; Joe Willock (Elliott Anderson 61), Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton (Matt Targett 0+5); Miguel Almiron (Allan Saint-Maximin 90+4), Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak (Anthony Gordon 90+4).
Subs not used: Martin Dubravka (G/K), Paul Dummett, Jamal Lewis, Jamie Miley.
Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 4 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Pascal Gross, Alexis MacAllister, Deniz Undav.
Newcastle: 2 - Fabian Schar, Bruno Guilaraes.
Possession: Albion - 66%. Newcastle - 34%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle).
Attendance: 52122.