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Whenever Tariq Lamptey ran towards them, it seemed as if the Newcastle United players were operating with their boots tied.
To say that Steve Bruce’s side was terrified of Graham Potter’s teenage right-back is an understatement and that the resulting psychological damage could take some time to repair. If Newcastle’s reluctance raised all sorts of uncomfortable questions about the team’s suitability for a 4-4-2 formation and at the same time served as a reminder that relegation struggles at Tyneside may not be a thing of the past, it also offered a greater vindication of the radical style. review that Potter has chaired on the south coast. Even the late dismissal of Yves Bissouma could not detract from the most successful away performance.
Overhead, the clouds were slate gray and looked heavy with impending rain, but Brighton enjoyed the brightest beginnings. From kick-off it became apparent that Bruce’s 4-4-2 formation was not ideally suited to her left-side midfield component, Allan Saint-Maximin. Especially on a day when the Frenchman faced such an offensive side as 19-year-old Brighton.
Saint-Maximin has many strengths, but defense is far from his strong suit. Meanwhile, Lamptey has the skills of a winger and used them to help his team quickly take a two-goal lead.
First, Saint-Maximin brought him down in the area, preceding a penalty after four minutes converted by Neil Maupay. Then, four minutes later, Lamptey tipped off Leandro Trossard and his cross was slipped past Karl Darlow by Maupay, who had slipped past Jamal Lascelles after making a blind to middle center from close range.
Initially, Maupay’s second goal was disallowed for a perceived offside against Trossard, but that decision was overturned by a VAR control, leaving Brighton celebrating once again.
Had Javier Manquillo not made an incisive, last-minute tackle almost certainly preventing goals on Graham Potter’s right-back, Newcastle would have lagged even further behind. If that was a relief to Bruce, it was a minor one as his side was all over the place and apparently petrified of Lamptey.
Newcastle’s left-back Jamal Lewis was finding him a difficult opponent and needed to watch his steps after being rightly booked for an untimely entry at the England Under-21 international. Since Jonjo Shelvey also received a yellow card for a similarly misguided challenge on the same opponent, something had to change.
Bruce duly ordered his wingers to switch flanks, leaving Lamptey facing the more defensive Jeff Hendrick. Undeterred, the star of the show simply decided to remind everyone that he can tackle too much courtesy of an impeccably timed challenge on a Callum Wilson following the forward’s connection to a stellar pass from Shelvey.
With a limping Saint-Maximin having been replaced by Ryan Fraser and Lascelles booked for a foul on Maupay, Bruce’s severe demeanor was almost as dire as the sky above him. When halftime called, the Newcastle manager had Darlow to thank for cleverly saving with his legs after Steven Alzate created an opportunity for, guess who?
Bar somehow managed to slip a sedative into Lamptey’s halftime drink, it was hard to imagine what Bruce could do to turn the tide. Something had to change and he responded by substituting the peripheral Andy Carroll for the more mobile Miguel Almirón at halftime.
Then in the 57th minute the Newcastle manager must have felt that maybe, just maybe, there was a God after all. Suddenly it seemed as if Lamptey had kicked too much and Potter made the possibly sensible decision to send Dan Burn in his place.
As the man of the match, several miles from the pitch, walked away to applause from the Brighton contingent before receiving a series of hugs from his manager and assorted coaches, renewed hope flickered for Newcastle, who could have backed down if the header from Wilson of an invitation to Almirón Center not diverted.
Potter tried to confuse his hosts by switching to a back four and his side was unlucky not to extend his lead when Trossard’s thunderous shot hit a post with Darlow on the wrong foot.
However, Aaron Connolly was quick to show Trossard how to finish, launching a commanding shot from the edge of the area that passed the home goalkeeper after Maupay hit the ball in the way.
He ruled that Bissouma’s subsequent expulsion for allowing his boot to catch Lewis in the face, a decision that referee Kevin Friend upgraded from a yellow card to a direct red, after being invited to review it by looking at the replay screen. of the VAR. – represented a mere academic footnote.
