The doubters said Eddie Howe’s team-sheet was a resignation letter – it turned out to be a statement of intent. Upon that piece of paper should he and the Saudi-led ownership, in attendance at St James’ Park, agree to move forward together next season.
The head coach picked his best XI in his mind when it would have been easier to include those whose absence has elevated their popularity on the outside. It was ever thus when a side is losing matches, as Newcastle have done too often of late.
But Howe’s big selection calls, as well as his second-half changes, responded with big performances, securing a win that both confirms Premier League safety and keeps alive hope of a European-placed finish. What a strange season this has been.
It was not easy – Brighton are a slick and confident side who came into this targeting Champions League football – but here was evidence of Newcastle’s guts and, with their very last kick, the glory of Harvey Barnes making sure of victory. That it needed a 95th-minute goal to be certain of three points told you how nervy it had become inside St James’.
Minutes earlier, former Newcastle man Yankuba Minteh missed an open goal for 2-2. Yoane Wissa then skied from close range at the other end. It was the drama Howe could have done without, especially with his side having led by two midway through the first-half.
But when Wissa stole the ball and pulled back for fellow substitute Barnes, who lashed home after stepping around goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, it allowed Howe to smile in a way he hasn’t for so long. Not that the afternoon looked like playing out so well.
Eddie Howe (left) got his big selection calls right as Newcastle beat Brighton on Saturday
The inclusion of the likes of Jacob Murphy (right) were questioned but paid off
Ten minutes of Brighton domination from kick off had you wondering which side was playing at home. Newcastle looked lost, at least until they found the opening goal against the run of play. A word first, though, for Nick Pope’s save after just 80 seconds.
Karou Mitoma got the better of Lewis Miley on the left and served the ball on a plate for Jack Hinshelwood, unmarked 10 yards out. He found the target with a tidy steer but Pope had read his intentions and got down low to keep out. Had that gone in, against a team low on confidence, you suspect it would have laid the foundation for a Brighton victory.
Not that Newcastle looked short on belief when they attacked from back to front and took the lead on 12 minutes. Bruno Guimaraes sprung Jacob Murphy clear from deep and, when the winger was tripped by Verbruggen just beyond the penalty area on the right, he had a quick decision to make – stay down or get up and carry on.
Maybe it was more instinct than calculation, but let’s credit him with the latter, because Verbruggen was unlikely to be sent off for the foul, given how wide they were. And so, jumping to his feet, Murphy crossed and Osula headed in. That pair were two of those picks which had been questioned.
It was a header that made it 2-0 when Dan Burn connected with a Guimaraes corner. Burn, too, should not have been in the XI according to some. He was to offer an aerial threat from set-pieces and more resistance at the back, which he did when Howe switched to a 5-4-1 after Hinshelwood scored a fine goal for 2-1 on the hour.
Pope made another big save from a Charalampos Kostoulas overhead kick in the 85th minute, justifying his selection, and without that Newcastle would not have won. Indeed, you could say the same for all of those who the manager, said the doubters, was wrong to pick. On this occasion, he got everything just about right.
