As Brighton’s young hearts ran free, a canny campaigner condemned Newcastle to another defeat at the stadium where they have never won. Danny Welbeck’s two goals were moments of rare composure amid a slugfest of a contest. They denied the Toon Army’s latest folk hero. Nick Woltemade’s backheel flick, a speciality, had levelled the scoring.
Welbeck’s first was a moment of equal delicacy, his second saw him thrash – first time – a loose ball home; his third winner against Newcastle in the last 12 months. Brighton snatched a third win of the Premier League season, each over opponents in this season’s Champions League, Newcastle following Chelsea and Manchester City. Newcastle, meanwhile, are yet to win away from St James’ Park.
“If the team plays well, then the individuals will shine,” said Fabian Hürzeler of Welbeck. “He is always there for his teammates and he’s a great goalscorer.” A flurry of Brighton chances should have killed off the contest far earlier but youthful potential will not always deliver. Step forward the striker who is 35 next month. “We saw personality, we showed character, we showed big resilience” was the Brighton manager’s overall verdict.
For Newcastle, Woltemade, beginning to redefine the football cliche of decent touch for a big man – his touches are often gossamer – has provided cheer. Those around him are missing the mark. “Nick has done really well, and we’re delighted for him, but we need more from the rest of the team,” said Eddie Howe.
“I really like to play here,” said Woltemade, the towering toast of the Toon. “I get balls; the players are looking for me. The gaffer trusts me.”
A midfield of Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães represented a significant test for the callow Brighton duo of Carlos Baleba, 21, and Yasin Ayari, 22. The Newcastle trio have claims on being the best unit in English football, particularly when Joelinton’s muscle is in full effect and Tonali dictates play.
Not that Guimarães is the lukewarm water between fire and ice; the captain finds scoring positions and should have done better with an early chance. He led his team’s thwarted revival, blazing over after the equaliser, but in the first half the youthful duo assumed near-total control. “We made the decision to go with the lads who had done the travelling,” said Howe, both Brazilians having flown back from far east friendlies. “They are brilliant players but they didn’t function well today.”
Yankuba Minteh, facing the club who sold him without playing a Premier League match, was dangerous throughout, frequently surging at Dan Burn, also facing former employers. “It’s always good for us to get him in one-on-one situations,” said Hürzeler of his right-wing flyer.
Woltemade took to his personal duel with Albion perennial Lewis Dunk. That included adeptly defending his own box at corners. He also exhibited an understanding with Anthony Gordon, less so Anthony Elanga, having a troubled start to life on Tyneside. “Anthony is going to be a great player for this football club, I am sure of that,” said Howe.
To break the deadlock, Georginio Rutter set Welbeck up to dab past Nick Pope; the striker’s finishing gets better as he ages. “I was happy with that,” Welbeck said. “I love it, I have the passion and love for football. I feel strong and fit so I won’t be stopping soon.”
Newcastle’s listlessness brought half-time changes. “I wasn’t happy,” said Howe. Joelinton was replaced by Lewis Miley, Elanga by Jacob Murphy. Newcastle continued to struggle with Brighton’s speedy transitions. Minteh slipped past Burn, Ayari’s bending shot curled wide, Pope next asked to make a sprawling save from Maxim De Cuyper before Ayari hurried another chance.
An inability to kill off opponents is a Brighton trademark, and when Murphy clanked wide, familiar anxieties grew. Howe took off Tonali and Gordon, Hürzeler concurrently took off Baleba, introducing James Milner in the hope of restoring control.
Guimarães, last man standing of Newcastle’s midfield triumvirate, engineered the momentum that brought Woltemade’s goal. It would take Welbeck, a Burn tackle on Mats Wieffer falling loose, to coax Brighton to a win that might have been theirs many times over.
