Newcastle move closer to the UCL

Newcastle United hammer Brighton and Hove Albion at St James’ Park to move a step closer to returning to UEFA Champions League football next season. 

LINEUPS

NEW XI: Pope; Trippier*, Schar, Burn, Burn; Joelinton, Guimares, Willock; Almiron, Wilson, Isak

NEW SUBS: Dubravka, Dummett, Manquillo, Lewis, Targett, Miley, Anderson, Saint-Maximin, Gordon

BRI XI: Steele; Caicedo, van Hecke, Dunk*, Estupinan; Gilmour, Gross; Buonanotte, Undav, Mitoma; Welbeck

BRI SUBS: McGill, Offiah, Samuels, Ayari, Peupion, Moran, Mac Allister, Enciso, Ferguson

Action: Throughout the first-half, Newcastle United were dominant and that dominance began early when they very nearly took a lead within the opening five minutes.

Alexander Isak got in down the left-hand side and went to play an effort across goal, which was well blocked by Jason Steele but the Swede bundled back past Steele before Lewis Dunk desperately cleared off the line. 

Dunk was once again in the thick of the action when a loose touch allowed Callum Wilson to pinch in and it seemed as though The Seagulls’ skipper would give away a penalty. However, VAR agreed with the referee and linesman to not give the decision.

Moments later, though, the hosts did get a vital opportunity as Joelinton had the ball rolled into him in the box. The Brazilian struck with his left foot but Dunk managed to block behind. From the resulting corner, though, Kieran Trippier swung in a cross with Deniz Undav turning the ball into his own net.

Then there was two chances late in the half for former Brighton man, Dan Burn. One, a left-footed toe poke, he wasted, and one, a header from another Trippier corner, which he converted to double Newcastle’s lead just on the stroke of half-time. 

Within a few minutes of the second-half, Newcastle nearly extended their lead. Miguel Almiron struck a volley straight at Jason Steele before Wilson failed to control his headed rebound and it ended up on the roof of the net.

Immediately after that missed opportunity, Brighton put a good passing move together and struck back. Billy Gilmour’s excellent pass through the heart of the Newcastle defence found Deniz Undav. The former Union SG striker slotted past Steele to get the visitors back in the game.

The rest of the half was an excellent and intense back and fourth between two entertaining sides that are clearly in a good mood generally with the teams trading cohesive and co-ordinated patterns of attacking play. The Magpies came closest with an Alexander Isak in the midst of an aerial Geordie bombardment.

Late on, though, the game, which had been put on a knife edge, was put to bed. Miguel Almiron collected the ball in the defensive right corner and managed to drift past Pervis Estupinan, before playing an excellent outside of the boot through ball to Callum Wilson, who had done really well to time his run. The England international carried confidently and fired past Steele to give the hosts their cushion.

Wilson then Guimarães 🤯🤯

Newcastle are in DREAMLAND 🌟 pic.twitter.com/PMIku0lt2S

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 18, 2023

The game was then put to bed just a few minutes later with Bruno Guimaraes adding a fourth. Wilson, once again, stretched the visitors’ defence and managed to cut back and lay off to the Brazilian midfielder to hammer home into an empty net. Wilson did have another opportunity to add a fifth but the former Coventry striker fired a slightly scuffed effort straight at Steele.

The Big Picture: Newcastle now head into the final two games of the season sitting four points clear of Liverpool in fourth place. They are seeking a first UEFA Champions League qualification since the 90’s. Brighton remain, just about, in contention for the top four and they face bottom-of-the-table and already relegated Southampton in their upcoming encounter at the weekend. 

Man of the match: Callum Wilson. A match-winning performance from the in-form Englishman has all but secured the hosts’ qualification for Europe’s elite club competition.

Expected goals: Newcastle United (3.34) 4-1 (0.68) Brighton and Hove Albion