Latest: Newcastle United 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 | OneFootball

Nick Pope made an important save from Jack Hinshelwood inside the first two minutes - then Carlos Baleba's long range curler struck the top of the Leazes End crossbar as Brighton made the stronger start.

But the home side came close themselves in the 11th minute when Osula drifted in from the left and fired just wide.

Seconds later, Jacob Murphy sprinted onto a long ball and beat Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen to the ball as he raced from his goal to make a clumsy challenge outside his area. Murphy quickly regained his footing and crossed for Osula to head into the unguarded net for a third goal in his last four matches.

And the Magpies doubled their head in the 24th minute when Burn marked his 150th Premier League appearance by heading home Bruno Guimarães' left-wing corner against his former club.

Soon afterwards, a Pope clearance ricocheted off Hinshelwood and against a post but at the other end, good combination between Osula and Willock saw the latter's poked effort kept out by Verbruggen.

It could have been 3-0 when Sven Botman headed Lewis Miley's ball back across goal for Malick Thiaw, but Verbruggen denied the German defender from close range.

A Danny Welbeck header dropped over the bar for the visitors but United had a commanding lead at the break, with Osula shooting wide in stoppage time after a lovely turn and strong run from his own half.

Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Malick Thiaw, William Osula, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimarães (c), Lewis Miley

Subs not used: Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier, Lewis Hall, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade, Jacob Ramsey