Newcastle United moved another step closer to Champions League qualification with a deserved Premier League win against fellow European hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion.
The hosts took the lead when Brighton forward Deniz Undav flicked Kieran Trippier’s corner into his own net, before the Magpies skipper picked out Dan Burn from a free-kick to head in the second.
Miguel Almiron was denied a third for Newcastle at the start of the second half by Brighton keeper Jason Steele’s smart stop and, just 45 seconds later, Undav slotted in at the right end to give the visitors hope.
Suddenly, after being in complete control for 50 minutes, Newcastle had to dig in.
But the home team managed the game professionally and eased any lingering tension through Callum Wilson’s composed late finish.
The mood turned even more celebratory when Bruno Guimaraes emphatically converted Wilson’s pass in injury time.
The win puts Newcastle on the cusp of a return to the Champions League for the first time since they were knocked out at the qualifying stage in 2003-04.
Eddie Howe’s side, who consolidated third position in the table, know one win in their final two games will secure a top-four finish.
The Magpies are three points clear of fourth-placed Manchester United, who have played a game fewer, and four ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool, who also have two games left.
Brighton remain sixth and qualifying for the Europa League – which would be their first taste of European competition – remains in their own hands with three matches left.
More to follow.
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Newcastle United
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Squad number22Player namePope
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Squad number2Player nameTrippier
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
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Squad number4Player nameBotman
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Squad number33Player nameBurn
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Squad number28Player nameWillock
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Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
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Squad number7Player nameJoelinton
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
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Squad number9Player nameWilson
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Squad number14Player nameIsak
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Squad number8Player nameGordon
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Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
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Squad number13Player nameTargett
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Squad number19Player nameManquillo
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Squad number32Player nameAnderson
Brighton & Hove Albion
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Squad number23Player nameSteele
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Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
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Squad number29Player namevan Hecke
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Squad number5Player nameDunk
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Squad number30Player nameEstupiñán
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Squad number13Player nameGroß
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Squad number27Player nameGilmour
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Squad number40Player nameBuonanotte
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Squad number21Player nameUndav
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Squad number22Player nameMitoma
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Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
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Squad number10Player nameMac Allister
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Squad number20Player nameEnciso
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Squad number28Player nameFerguson
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Squad number42Player nameOffiah
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Squad number51Player namePeupion
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Pope
- 2TrippierSubstituted forManquilloat 90+5′minutes
- 5SchärBooked at 45mins
- 4Botman
- 33Burn
- 28WillockSubstituted forAndersonat 61′minutes
- 39Bruno GuimarãesBooked at 30mins
- 7JoelintonSubstituted forTargettat 90+5′minutes
- 24AlmirónSubstituted forSaint-Maximinat 90+4′minutes
- 9Wilson
- 14IsakSubstituted forGordonat 90+4′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Dúbravka
- 3Dummett
- 8Gordon
- 10Saint-Maximin
- 12Lewis
- 13Targett
- 19Manquillo
- 32Anderson
- 81Miley
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Steele
- 25Caicedo
- 29van HeckeBooked at 80mins
- 5Dunk
- 30Estupiñán
- 13GroßBooked at 57minsSubstituted forOffiahat 69′minutes
- 27GilmourSubstituted forMac Allisterat 56′minutesBooked at 64mins
- 40BuonanotteSubstituted forEncisoat 56′minutes
- 21UndavBooked at 45minsSubstituted forPeupionat 85′minutes
- 22Mitoma
- 18WelbeckSubstituted forFergusonat 56′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Mac Allister
- 20Enciso
- 26Ayari
- 28Ferguson
- 38McGill
- 42Offiah
- 49Moran
- 51Peupion
- 66Samuels
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 52,122
Live Text
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Match ends, Newcastle United 4, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
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Second Half ends, Newcastle United 4, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
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Attempt missed. Julio Enciso (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Evan Ferguson.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Javier Manquillo replaces Kieran Trippier.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Matt Targett replaces Joelinton.
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Foul by Julio Enciso (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Allan Saint-Maximin replaces Miguel Almirón.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Anthony Gordon replaces Alexander Isak.
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Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joelinton (Newcastle United).
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Goal! Newcastle United 4, Brighton and Hove Albion 1. Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum Wilson.
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Goal! Newcastle United 3, Brighton and Hove Albion 1. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Miguel Almirón with a through ball following a fast break.
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Attempt blocked. Moisés Caicedo (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexis Mac Allister.
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Attempt blocked. Cameron Peupion (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pervis Estupiñán with a cross.
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Kieran Trippier.
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Cameron Peupion replaces Deniz Undav.
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Pervis Estupiñán (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United).
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