Newcastle United 4-1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Magpies boost Champions League hopes with win

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.

Newcastle on verge of getting Champions League party started

While the Saudi-backed consortium which bought Newcastle in late 2021 brought optimism and excitement about the club's future, few expected a team in a relegation battle at the time of the takeover to be contending for Champions League qualification this season.

Howe said before Brighton's visit that he would have "snapped the hand off" someone offering him the prospect of a top-four finish at the start of the season.

What was then a fanciful thought is now so close to becoming a reality.

Newcastle's rapid improvement has been down to Howe's management and astute signings, with strong home form providing the bedrock of their success.

The Magpies had only lost two league games at St James' Park this season before Thursday's crucial fixture, and knew victory against the Seagulls and another home win against Leicester on Monday would seal their place among Europe's elite next season.

Howe's team started positively, playing with energy and purpose, and fully deserved their 2-0 half-time lead.

The atmosphere among the home fans turned slightly tenser when Brighton halved the deficit, but the noise increased to thunderous levels again after the two late goals removed any lingering doubts.

Party time had arrived. The beaming smiles from the faces in the stands, matched by those on the Newcastle players at the full-time, was an indication the city is confident of welcoming Europe's elite again next season.

"The Champions League is so close, but so far away as well. We will enjoy tonight but [we are] focused on our next match," said Howe.

More to follow.

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Newcastle United

Squad number22Player namePope

Squad number2Player nameTrippier

Squad number5Player nameSchär

Squad number4Player nameBotman

Squad number33Player nameBurn

Squad number28Player nameWillock

Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães

Squad number7Player nameJoelinton

Squad number24Player nameAlmirón

Squad number9Player nameWilson

Squad number14Player nameIsak

Squad number8Player nameGordon

Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin

Squad number13Player nameTargett

Squad number19Player nameManquillo

Squad number32Player nameAnderson

Brighton & Hove Albion

Squad number23Player nameSteele

Squad number25Player nameCaicedo

Squad number29Player namevan Hecke

Squad number5Player nameDunk

Squad number30Player nameEstupiñán

Squad number13Player nameGroß

Squad number27Player nameGilmour

Squad number40Player nameBuonanotte

Squad number21Player nameUndav

Squad number22Player nameMitoma

Squad number18Player nameWelbeck

Squad number10Player nameMac Allister

Squad number20Player nameEnciso

Squad number28Player nameFerguson

Squad number42Player nameOffiah

Squad number51Player namePeupion

Line-ups

Newcastle

Formation 4-3-3

22Pope

2Trippier5Schär4Botman33Burn

28Willock39Bruno Guimarães7Joelinton

24Almirón9Wilson14Isak

Substitutes

Brighton

Formation 4-2-3-1

23Steele

25Caicedo29van Hecke5Dunk30Estupiñán

13Groß27Gilmour

40Buonanotte21Undav22Mitoma

18Welbeck

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Newcastle United 4, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.

Second Half ends, Newcastle United 4, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.

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.

Substitution, Newcastle United. Javier Manquillo replaces Kieran Trippier.

Substitution, Newcastle United. Matt Targett replaces Joelinton.

Foul by Julio Enciso (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt saved. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Substitution, Newcastle United. Allan Saint-Maximin replaces Miguel Almirón.

Substitution, Newcastle United. Anthony Gordon replaces Alexander Isak.

Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Joelinton (Newcastle United).

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.

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.

Attempt blocked. Moisés Caicedo (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexis Mac Allister.

Attempt blocked. Cameron Peupion (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pervis Estupiñán with a cross.

Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Kieran Trippier.

Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Cameron Peupion replaces Deniz Undav.

Pervis Estupiñán (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United).

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