Newcastle\u2019s recent victory putting blinkers on Brighton placed them third in the Premier League table and needing just one win from their remaining two league games this season to secure a place among Europe’s top flight.<\/p>\n
Callum Wilson scored late brace made sure Newcastle won comfortably 4-1 at home to Brighton on Thursday to move within sight of Champions League qualification.\u00a0Kieran Trippier had paved the way for Newcastle to go 2-0 up before half-time at St James\u2019 Park, with his deadly crosses leading to an own-goal from Deniz Undav and a headed goal by Dan Burn.<\/p>\n
Undav, however, made good on his earlier blunder by pulling a goal back for Brighton early in the second half although that was hardly sufficient to salvage the day for his side as Wilson scored on the counter-attack a minute from full-time before setting up Bruno Guimaraes for the Magpies to bundle out Brighton at 4-1.<\/p>\n
The victory has left Newcastle a comfortable third in the Premier League table and needing just one win from their remaining two league games, at home to Leicester on Monday and away to Chelsea, to secure Champions League qualification credentials. And they will be assured of a top-four finish without having to kick a ball if Liverpool lose to Aston Villa on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Brighton remained sixth despite this defeat and still in contention for Europa League football next season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we were excellent in the first half,\u201d Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told the BBC.<\/p>\n
\u201cA really strong performance, probably kicking ourselves we didn\u2019t take some of the chances.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regarding the prospect of Champions League football, he added: \u201cYeah (we are close), but it is still so far away. We will enjoy tonight, but then turn our focus towards Leicester.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we were just pleased with the performance tonight, to beat a side of their quality. We are not looking too far ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, fresh from the Seagulls\u2019 impressive 3-0 win at Arsenal, took the night\u2019s proceedings well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe deserved to lose the game,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to make any excuses. We concede two goals in two set-pieces but we didn\u2019t play well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"