3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Newcastle 1 Brighton 2 | OneFootball

Sunday afternoon’s match ended Brighton 1 Newcastle 2.

Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

An interesting afternoon at St James’ Park…

Plenty to talk about after this one.

On this occasion it is David Punton:

POSITIVES

J7’s back

It was good to see Joelinton back from injury.

He was able to get some valuable minutes into his legs. He’s a vital player for the huge games that we’ve got to come.

Given the red card for Gordon, we may need him on the left side soon? Get the high press back.

Fine lines

It was one of those games where you really felt on another day we’d have won that.

It’s easy to say this, but genuinely, we’ve been a shade unfortunate. Every bounce of the ball fell Brighton’s way.

We came so close to a second goal during normal time.

The VAR at the end overturned a key moment. It was really close and it deflated us. Schar looked onside but was millimetres off. A tough one to take. It’s a cruel game.

I didn’t like the way Anthony Taylor refereed either. I don’t like this fella at all.

His attitude seemed to be ‘well I’ve let you have a penalty so you’re getting nothing else from me’.

I don’t take anything away from Brighton, who are a good side, but Taylor let them away with a fair bit in my view.

I was astonished he levelled up the red card count.

Keeping the faith

I know this team can play better and I cling to the hope they will do in the remainder of this season.

Their focus is now on the league and doing all they can by raising their games for Wembley. We’ll need moon and stars to align, will have to play much better and get a bit more rub of the green.

Eddie Howe’s not been backed in the transfer window due to PSR and that’s a big reason for our current issues.

Everyone’s a bit burned out.

NEGATIVES

Seeing red

The red card shown to Anthony Gordon was a disaster for us – and him.

With the final looming, he will now miss the game through suspension, bar an appeal which is unlikely to succeed.

It was a daft thing for Gordon to do. In fact it was rank stupidity, I was left wondering if Eddie Howe has warned the players to be careful about this type of thing ahead of Wembley.

It reminded me of 2023 when Pope saw red and missed the final against Man Utd, leaving us with a third choice keeper in net.

Gordon wasn’t having his best game but I still feel he’s a big miss when we take on Liverpool in the final. They’ll be happier not having to face AG’s pace.

A tale of two strikers

We had Callum Wilson to bring on, they had Danny Welbeck.

It was a contrast. Welbeck is a hard player with a good record at SJP, while Wilson never really got a sniff at the other end.

With Isak off, we didn’t quite have a match winner to seal the game.

I always felt one side would get a big chance in extra time and sadly for us it fell the way of Welbeck, not Wilson.

Cup of woe

We had our moments but I still felt we were poor with the ball today. It’s cost us the chance of the FA Cup this year.

We lacked a little of bit of calm and cohesion when trying to fashion the chances.

We were able to spray the ball around but we never looked dominant and the Seagulls always looked a danger.

The Brighton winner came from a passage of play where we handed them the ball back too cheaply. Livramento then playing Welbeck onside.

Other negatives were Harvey Barnes – anonymous.

Joe Willock – missed a sitter and drove everyone crackers in other moments.

We have to add Brighton to the list of Newcastle bogey sides.

They’ve won up here so many times I’ve lost count. It’s a shame they only brought a paltry 1,000 fans to see it.

Newcastle 1 Brighton 2 (AET) – Sunday 2 March 2025 1.45pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Isak 22 pen, Gordon red card 83

Brighton:

Minteh 44, Lamptey red card 90+1, Welbeck 114 extra time

Possession was Newcastle 48% Brighton 52%

Total shots were Newcastle 15 Brighton 21

Shots on target were Newcastle 5 Brighton 5

Corners were Newcastle 6 Brighton 5

Touches in the box Newcastle 38 Brighton 45

Newcastle team v Brighton:

Dubravka, Livramento, Trippier (Targett 69), Schar, Burn, Joelinton (Willock 56), Tonali, Miley (Bruno 56), Gordon, Isak (Wilson 86), Barnes (Murphy 56)

Unused subs:

Pope, Krafth, Osula, Longstaff

(Newcastle 1 Brighton 2 (AET) – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Brighton 2 (AET) – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

(An opportunity lost – Newcastle 1 Brighton 2 (AET) – Read HERE)

Upcoming Newcastle United fixtures:

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 16 March – Newcastle v Liverpool (4.30pm) Carabao Cup final Sky Sports

Wednesday 2 April – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm)

Monday 7 April – Leicester v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 13 April – Newcastle v Man U (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 16 April – Newcastle v Palace (7.30pm)

Saturday 19 April – Villa v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports