Danny Welbeck scored early and late as Brighton held off wasteful Newcastle United in a 2-1 affair at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
Brighton led and looked on pace for a first clean sheet of the season when Nick Woltemade’s clever equalizer was the highlight of a strong period from the visitors.
WATCH — Brighton v Newcastle full match replay
But the 34-year-old Welbeck delivered all three points in the 84th minute when he cleaned up a loose ball outside the 18.
Brighton move three points clear of Newcastle. The Seagulls are ninth with 12 points, while Newcastle’s nine points have them 12th.
One-dimensional Magpies undone by Seagulls’ team play
Newcastle will feel they should’ve taken a point from East Sussex thanks to some solid defending in the first half and a good final half-hour aside from Welbeck’s opportunistic goal. But it’s all so predictable right now as Yoane Wissa’s injury and a lack of edge from the wingers — at least in Premier League play — has made it clear to the opposition that everything is going to go through Nick Woltemade. The German scored once and might’ve had three on another day, but he’s more Harry Kane than Erling Haaland as he drops into play to help in the build-up. That means someone else has to show up on the score sheet, and only Bruno Guimaraes has joined Woltemade amongst the goals on a PL score sheet over the last six games. In fact, the PL goals board reads: Woltemade-4, Guimaraes-2, Osula-1. Anthony Gordon missed games through suspension but has not been very good on English soil, and Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga, and Jacob Murphy have been more playmakers than playtakers. Who will step up? With Fulham, West Ham, and Brentford next, the time is now.
As for Brighton, Fabian Hurzeler’s team is back into underdog mode and comfortable with that. Now that Joao Pedro has joined the long list of Seagulls to fly away from the Amex Stadium, this team is more about the sum of their parts. The team bunkered down for a point and held on tight before Welbeck scooped up his chance for three points, and it often looked like their desperation defending would be enough to block Newcastle from getting something. Max De Cuyper flashed promise in his latest bid to catch the eye of Brighton supporters and young Stefanos Tzimas and Charalampos Kostoulas are still waiting to seize their moments in blue and white. Until that happens. this season will be all hands on deck for Hurzeler. He’ll be confident that his team can stay comfortably mid-table while aiming for more.
What’s next?
Newcastle head to the UEFA Champions League for a Tuesday visit from Jose Mourinho’s Benfica. Then, it’s home to Fulham at 10am ET Saturday.
Brighton head to Old Trafford for a 12:30pm ET Saturday scrap with Manchester United.
How to watch Brighton vs Newcastle live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: Amex Stadium — Falmer, Brighton
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Live online via NBC.com
Brighton vs Newcastle live updates, final score: 2-1
Danny Welbeck 41', 84', Nick Woltemade 77'
Danny Welbeck goal — Brighton 2-1 Newcastle United
The veteran delivers when Brighton had been sapped of momentum.
Mats Wieffer’s shot is blocked by a sliding Dan Burn, but Welbeck’s late arriving run curls past Pope from outside the box!
Nick Woltemade goal — Brighton 1-1 Newcastle United
He just did that.
Bart Verbruggen is left out to lunch as Nick Woltemade was not cooled by the international break.
Jacob Murphy leads a rush and fellow sub Lewis Miley squares a hopeful ball in the box for Woltemade.
The German swings his right foot behind his left to slide the ball inside the far post. Fantastic, clever equalizer.
Subs
Newcastle remove Tonali and Gordon for Jacob Ramsey and Harvey Barnes.
Brighton bring on Stefanos Tzimas and James Milner for Rutter and Baleba.
1-0 Brighton in the 72nd minute.
Pope strong
De Cuyper hammers a low shot that Pope has to block with a firmly-planted leg.
Magpies very much “under the cosh,” as they say.
Brighton come close
Really good team play here as Yankuba Minteh keeps the ball after a Dan Burn challenge.
Neat little passes inside the box lead to Yasin Ayari curling just high and wide of the far upper 90.
Newcastle changes
Anthony Elanga and Joelinton are halftime exits in favor of Jacob Murphy and Lewis Miley.
Halftime — Brighton 1-0 Newcastle United
A righteous lead for Brighton, who have out-attempted the visitors while keeping just a bit more of the ball.
Shots are 7-2 for the Seagulls.
Jacob Ramsey, Jacob Murphy, and Harvey Barnes could shake up the attack for Newcastle.
Danny Welbeck goal — Brighton 1-0 Newcastle
Striker wisdom is timeliness, and Welbeck’s run is perfectly-timed to meet Georginio Rutter’s through ball.
Welbeck has a half-yard on Nick Botman and that’s all he needs to get the ball past Pope.
Diego Gomez injury
Pope plays on, but it’s Gomez now limping and trying to shake off a knock from a subsequent incident.
He re-enters soon after leaving the pitch.
The return doesn’t last long, and Gomez is replaced by Maxim De Cuyper in the 36th minute.
Nick Pope shaken up
A chipped cross toward the penalty spot is punched by Nick Pope, who is clattered into by Diego Gomez.
The trainers are called out for Pope.
0-0, 27'.
Carlos Baleba wins free kick
The Cameroonian international dribbles through a sea of Magpies and sees his long shot deflected out for a corner. Or does he see it? Baleba is sent airborne by a low Thiaw block.
The corner is handled by Newcastle and Anthony Elanga launches a counter attack the other way.
0-0, 14'.
Bruno Guimaraes just wide
Nice move from Newcastle, as Malick Thiaw sends Kieran Trippier down the right wing for a nice cross.
It’s half-cleared by Brighton, and Sandro Tonali nods it down to Bruno Guimaraes, who takes a touch to create space but can’t get power or precision on his shot.
0-0, 7'.
Brighton lineup
Verbruggen, Gomez, Dunk, Van Hecke, Ayari, Wieffer, Baleba, Rutter, Kadioglu, Minteh, Welbeck
Newcastle lineup
Pope, Burn, Botman, Thiaw, Trippier, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Gordon, Elanga, Woltemade
Brighton vs Newcastle preview
The sides are separated on the table by a single goal of differential, with Newcastle one spot ahead of Brighton despite twin 2W-3D-2L records after seven matches.
The Seagulls have had a strange early season. They boasts wins over Chelsea and Manchester City but most recently drew Wolves and have yet to keep a clean sheet. Fabian Hurzeler has overseen a decent start to the season, but it will feel a whole lot better if they can knock off Champions League entrants Newcastle.
The Magpies have yet to win or score away from St. James’ Park, drawing Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Bournemouth. Their lone losses came at home to Arsenal and Liverpool, and their most recent results was a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest that featured a third goal in four Premier League games from record signing Nick Woltemade; The German also scored his first senior international goal during the break.
Brighton team news, focus
OUT: Brajan Gruda (unspecified), Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), Adam Webster (knee), Solly March (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Joel Veltman (calf), Kaoru Mitoma (foot), Diego Gomez (thigh)
Newcastle United team news, focus
OUT: Yoane Wissa (knee), Tino Livramento (knee), Lewis Hall (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Joelinton (undisclosed), Lewis Miley (calf)
Brighton vs Newcastle United prediction
The Seagulls have been much better at the Amex than away from home, but Newcastle are a robust attack and will feel good about adding to Brighton’s clean-sheet woes. Newcastle can be tested out wide but their center backs are strong and deep. However, planning for a UEFA Champions League visit from Benfica could lead to interesting lineup decisions from Eddie Howe. Brighton 1-2 Newcastle.
