Newcastle secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Brighton at St. James' Park, with William Osula and Dan Burn striking early to set the tone before Harvey Barnes sealed the win in injury time.
Newcastle bounced back from a poor run of form with this emphatic display. The hosts entered the match on the back of four consecutive defeats, sitting 14th in the Premier League table. Brighton, by contrast, arrived as the in-form side, sitting sixth with five points clear of the drop zone and unbeaten in their last five matches.
Newcastle made their intentions clear from the opening minutes. William Osula fired the hosts ahead in the 12th minute with a clinical finish. The early goal set the tone for a dominant Newcastle start.
Osula's opener sparked confidence through the Newcastle ranks. Just 12 minutes later, in the 24th minute, Dan Burn doubled the lead with another well-taken finish. The defender's goal gave Newcastle complete control of the contest.
Brighton struggled to find their rhythm in the first half. Joël Veltman picked up a yellow card in the 22nd minute for a rash challenge. Kaoru Mitoma followed suit with a caution in the 39th minute as Brighton's frustration grew.
Newcastle's early dominance came despite Brighton's superior possession. The visitors controlled 67 percent of the ball but could not convert their chances. Newcastle's defensive shape held firm through the first 45 minutes.
The second half saw Brighton emerge with renewed purpose. Jack Hinshelwood pulled one back in the 61st minute with a well-taken strike. The goal gave the visitors hope and sparked a brief resurgence.
However, Newcastle maintained their defensive discipline. Sven Botman and Nick Pope kept Brighton at bay despite sustained pressure. The hosts absorbed Brighton's attacking threat without serious alarm.
Tensions rose as the match progressed. Burn received a yellow card in the 53rd minute for a foul. Sandro Tonali joined the list of cautions in the 85th minute as both teams grew increasingly frustrated.
Newcastle sealed the victory in the 90+5th minute when Harvey Barnes fired home to make it 3-1. The late goal ended any hope of a Brighton comeback and confirmed Newcastle's dominant performance.
The statistics reflected Newcastle's efficiency. Newcastle registered 12 shots with five on target. Brighton attempted 13 shots but managed only four on target. Expected goals favored Newcastle at 2.99 to Brighton's 1.64.
This result marked a significant turnaround for Newcastle, who snapped their losing streak with a commanding performance. Brighton's unbeaten run ended, though they remain in a solid sixth-place position with 50 points from 34 matches.
