BRIGHTON: Newcastle continue to struggle after finishing in the top four last season and qualifying for the Champions league. They have lost three Premier League matches in four after losing five in the entire previous season.
They went down 3-I in defeat to Brighton with teenager Evan Ferguson grabbing his first treble at senior level. His manager, Roberto De Zerbi, said in praise: “His qualities are enough to become a great player. One day he can be one of the best scorers in Europe. He is 18. I don’t know many young players like him.”
Zerbi added: “I’m really pleased with his performance, especially in the first half. His improvement is important for him, for us, for his career. He is working to complete his qualities not only scoring.”
Newcastle were unimpressive from the start. Their third defeat came within three weeks of the start of the season whereas last season they hadn’t lost three matches until as late as March. It should be said though that their two losses were against Manchester City and Liverpool and now against a highly improved Brighton. However, their slow, listless effort cannot be excused.
Brighton’s fine form has seen them rise into the top four this season. They were slow at the start but the tempo picked up as the first half progressed and they took the lead in the 27th minute after an error by the goalkeeper Nick Pope whose poor clearance saw Kaoru Mitoma take a shot which Pope saved. The follow-up shot by Billy Gilmour went into Pope’s midriff and bounced out to Ferguson to hammer in.
Just before the hour, not happy with what he had been seeing of his team, Newcastle manager made three substitutions. But less than halfway into the second half, Brighton went two up after poor defending by the visitors. An excellent pass from Gilmour was picked up by an unmarked Ferguson who had enough room as he ran on to curl a shot into the bottom corner.
The young Brighton striker was full of energy and looked unstoppable as only five minutes later he completed his fine hat-trick. It came just after Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon had missed a good chance with a shot that went wide of the far post.
There was an element of luck with the third goal as Ferguson’s shot took a slight deflection from defender Fabian Schar’s leg. Had that not happened it seemed Pope would have had the shot covered.
Brighton may have had four in the end had not a tackle from Kieran Trippier stopped Mitoma from scoring. Newcastle got a consolation goal in added-on time from Callum Wilson. But the day belonged to young Ferguson.
Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe said: “Of course there are concerns when you are not winning, I’m not naive. But I have to look at the fixture list, which has been tough for us. I need to be calm, analyse where we can get better, then go to work and try to do it. It’s important I don’t overreact.”
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