4 MAY 2025
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Matchday 35 in the Premier saw the Albion entertain Newcastle United at the Amex, "live" in front of the Sky Sports cameras, the game also being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Last time out in the Premier, the Albion had beaten West Ham United 3-2 in a thriller at the Amex on the 26 April and for the visit of the Toon the Seagulls made two changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Jan Paul Van Hecke and Yankuba Minteh coming in for Yasin Ayari and Solly March.
On the substitutes bench for the Albion was the fit-again Adam Webster.
In their previous game, Newcastle had beaten Ipswich Town 3-0 at home in the Premier on the 26 April and for their visit to the Amex, Head Coach Eddie Howe named an unchanged starting line-up from the Ipswich game.
In their two meetings in season 2023-2024, it was 3-1 to the Albion at the Amex on the 2 September 2023, with Evan Ferguson netting a hat-trick (27m, 65m & 70m) ( how times have changed!), whilst Newcastle's late consolation came from substitute Callum Wilson (90+2m). In the return fixture at St. James' Park on the 11 May 2024 it finished 1-1, with Joel Veltman (18m) scoring for the Seagulls and Sean Longstaff (45+5m) equalising for the Toon.
This season the Albion have visited St. James' Park twice. In the Premier, on the 19 October 2024, it was 1-0 to the Seagulls, with Danny Welbeck (35m) scoring the winner. The other visit was in the FA Cup on the 2 March 2025 when the Albion won 2-1 after extra time, with the goals coming from Yankuba Minteh (44m) and Danny Welbeck (114m). Alexander Isak (22m) scored for the Toon from the penalty spot.
With both teams needing to win this one, it was the Toon who made the brighter start as early on Harvey Barnes dragged his shot wide and then Joe Willock fired a shot over the Albion crossbar. A midfield stalemate then ensued as both teams strived for supremacy. However on 28 minutes former Newcastle player Yankuba Minteh drifted in from the left, leaving a couple of opponents in his wake before firing in a left-foot shot which took a slight deflection off Dan Burn before entering the Newcastle net. 1-0. A closely fought first-half.
Half-time 1-0.
The second-half was the tale of three penalties. On the hour Referee Craig Pawson adjudged that Albion substitute Tariq Lamptey had tripped Newcastle substitute Anthony Gordon in the box and awarded the Toon a penalty. VAR had other ideas and found that the foul had been committed outside the box. From the free-kick, Fabian Schar saw his shot on goal deflected wide.
More drama ensued when Jan Paul Van Hecke was ruled to have brought down Willock in the box. Referee Pawson pointed to the spot but VAR intervened again and it showed that Van Hecke had not connected with Willock who was shown a yellow card for simulation. At the other end a fine run by Minteh ended with a shot which Newcastle keeper Nick Pope tipped over the bar for a fine save.
On 88 minutes Newcastle were awarded a free-kick when Van Hecke fouled Barnes just outside the Albion box. Schar's free-kick struck substitute Yasin Ayari's raised arm in the Albion wall and Referee Pawson pointed to the spot for a third time. This time VAR upheld the Referee's decision.
It was a case of third time lucky for Newcastle as Alexander Isak fired home the resultant penalty for Newcastle's equaliser. 1-1. There was still time for substitute Diego Gomez to head wide from fellow substitute Brajan Gruda's free-kick, when he should have scored and two minutes later Barnes set-up substitute Callum Wilson whose snap-shot brought out a brilliant save from Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen who tipped the ball over the bar. The game ended all-square, which did not really suit either team. Final-score 1-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 5 attempts at goal, with 2 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded -15.
Newcastle had 13 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
VERDICT - A battling performance by the Albion and they very close to gaining all three points. The European dream is still alive and wins are required from the remaining three fixtures, starting at Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Mats WIEFFER (Tariq LAMPTEY 54), Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Pervis ESTUPINAN; Carlos BALEBA, Jack HINSHELWOOD (Yasin AYARI 69); Yankuba MINTEH (Diego GOMEZ 94), Matt O'RILEY (Brajan GRUDA 93), Simon ADINGRA (Joel VELTMAN 69); Danny WELBECK.
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Adam WEBSTER, Igor JULIO, Harry HOWELL.
Newcastle United line-up (4-3-3):- Nick POPE; Kieran TRIPPIER (Emil KRAFTH 97), Fabian SCHAR (Sven BOTMAN 97), Dan BURN, Tino LIVRAMENTO; Bruno GUIMARAES (Capt), Sandro TONALI, Joe WILLOCK (Callum WILSON 74); Jacob MURPHY (Anthony GORDON 56), Alexander ISAK, Harvey BARNES.
Subs not used: Martin DUBRAVKA (G/K), Sean LONGSTAFF, Sean NEAVE, Lewis MILEY, William OSULA.
Referee: Craig Pawson (Sheffield). Fourth Official: Steve Martin. VAR Official: Andy Madley.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 2 - Mats Wieffer, Danny Welbeck.
Newcastle United: 1 - Joe Willock.
Possession: Albion - 46%. Newcastle United - 54%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Yankuba Minteh (Albion).
Attendance: 31580.
NEXT GAME:
10 MAY 2025 - WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS - Away - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.