Newcastle United took a significant stride towards securing a top-four finish in the Premier League with a commanding 4-1 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday. An own goal by Deniz Undav and a header from Dan Burn before halftime gave Newcastle a commanding lead from their position in third place.
Brighton & Hove Albion, currently in sixth place and also vying for their first-ever European qualification, managed to pull a goal back through Deniz Undav. As Newcastle squandered opportunities and Brighton posed a threat of an equalizer, there was a sense of nervousness at St James’ Park. However, late goals from Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes ignited a festive atmosphere within the stadium, sealing the victory and sparking a celebration among the Newcastle supporters.
After the final whistle, Newcastle’s players soaked in the applause from the fans, fully aware that while a top-four finish is not yet guaranteed, they are just one win away from securing it. With 69 points, they currently sit in third place, with fourth-placed Manchester United closely behind on 66 points and three games remaining. Liverpool, with only two games left, trails behind with 65 points.
Despite Newcastle’s recent form, having secured only one point from their previous two matches, and Brighton’s impressive 3-0 victory over Arsenal, the match posed a challenging obstacle for the home team. However, Newcastle quickly established dominance in the early stages and broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute. Kieran Trippier’s well-placed corner glanced off the head of Deniz Undav, resulting in an own goal.
Brighton’s goalkeeper, Jason Steel, kept his team in the match shortly after the break with a brilliant reflex save to deny Miguel Almiron. However, Brighton quickly responded and reduced the deficit as Billy Gilmour expertly split Newcastle’s defense, allowing Undav to calmly slot the ball past Nick Pope. In the final minutes of the game, Callum Wilson increased his season’s goal tally to 18 after being set up by Almiron on a clear run. Then, in stoppage time, Bruno Guimaraes fired a close-range shot into the net, sealing a comprehensive victory for Newcastle.
A victory in their upcoming home match against Leicester City on Monday will secure Newcastle a spot in the Champions League, an achievement they haven’t accomplished in two decades. The anticipation is high as the club aims to make a triumphant return to Europe’s elite competition.