Exactly 2 years ago today, this happened to Newcastle United – Repeat performance? | OneFootball

Exactly two years ago today, Newcastle United faced a massive match that could/would effectively seal their Champions League fate.

On 18 May 2023 you had three teams still fighting it out for the final Champions League place.

No safety net of fifth place getting Champions League back then.

Only the Premier League top four would qualify.

So who would join Man City, Arsenal and Man U?

This is how the Premier League table looked from fourth to sixth place before the St James’ Park match on the evening of Thursday 18 May 2023:

Fourth – Newcastle United on 66 points having played 35 games

Fifth – Liverpool on 65 points having played 36 games

Sixth – Brighton on 58 points having played 34 games

Newcastle United in a great position and if winning against Brighton, they would effectively be there surely, having relegation favourites Leicester at home the following Monday, then Chelsea away in the final game.

However, if Brighton won at St James’ Park and won their game in hand they would be only two points behind NUFC with each having two games left to play, whilst Liverpool would also have two matches remaining and be one point behind Newcastle. It could even come down to goal difference at the end of the season and Eddie Howe’s side had a four goal advantage over Liverpool and a huge advantage over Brighton.

What a night it turned out to be, exactly two years ago today.

Brighton had two thirds of the possession but Newcastle United dominated the match.

Whilst it was 34% possession for Newcastle and 66% for Brighton, it was 22 v 8 on total shots advantage for NUFC, 9 v 2 shots on target, corners 6 v 1.

A brilliant inswinging Trippier corner was headed in by Brighton’s Undav on 22 minutes, the Dan Burn made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time. Absolutely none of this not celebrating when scoring against your former team! Just look at the match highlights below.

Six minutes into the second-half and out of nowhere a Brighton break saw Undav score at the right end (for the Seagulls), one of only two efforts on target all night for the visitors.

Whilst at the time you feel as a fan that at any time surely Brighton will score again, in truth, they barely got near Pope’s goal again.

Two quickfire goals at the end from Wilson and Bruno put a more realistic look on the final scoreline of Newcastle 4 Brighton 1.

Newcastle United were now all but there, a massive result, a point would follow on the Monday at home to Leicester that would mathematically get United over the Champions League line BUT it was this Brighton match exactly two years ago today that effectively did it.

Same again please today against Arsenal. A win for Newcastle would guarantee Champions League, whilst a point will take us a major step towards that, with Everton at home to finish off.

Liverpool and Brighton knew the game was up and in the end Newcastle United very comfortably got Champions League, ending the season with 71 points, whilst Liverpool were fifth on 67 points, Brighton in sixth on 62 points.

Here are the match highlights to enjoy again from exactly two years ago, then following that we have reproduced the immediate post-match comments from a number of regular contributors to The Mag.

Newcastle 4 Brighton 1 – Thursday 18 May 7.30pm

A brilliant perfornance.

Full of character, class AND goals!

Nat Seaton:

“WE DID IT!!!! Credit to each and every one of the players and staff they gave absolutely everything tonight and came away with a superb victory. We were the better team but it did get a little scary for a while in the second half but the players have more faith than me!! A great night to be at St. James’ can’t wait for Monday night.”

David Punton:

“What. A. Night. Nerves jangled but we got there, and in the end it was emphatic. So many chances created against a Brighton side who had taken Arsenal to the cleaners at weekend. It was tense at 2-1 and the injuries make us look threadbare in midfield, but in Wilson we have a seasoned goal getter. His 18th of the campaign and it was job done. We are in dreamland. One win from Europe’s top table. One more big push needed.”

Jamie Smith:

“Oooh that’s tremendous! This was always the big one, beat a threatening opponent tonight and the four point gap to Liverpool suddenly looks very sustainable. I hated that whole second half after Brighton scored terrifyingly early to set nerves jangling. The crowd played a huge part in keeping the team going and a pair of injury time goals made for a memorable night. We can watch the Saturday games with interest as opposed to fear. Just hope we have a strong enough side to see off Leicester, some walking wounded there.”

GToon:

“Klopp, BBC, Talksport, Carragher and Neville you aren’t taking our champions league place off us you bunch of (ask Spenna).”

Greg McPeake:

“Watching the game on tv in Peckham not the best experience but I happened to get talking to a Geordie lad, turns out most of us are from the North East in the bar. Great start and fully deserved at half time. Their goal seemed to gave them the initiative and they showed the quality they have but with a bit of luck on our side there should really have been no contest. A solid victory in the end but nerves were there at 2 1. Thought Miggy was ace tonight.”

Tony Mallabar:

“Now that’s what i call a proper football match. Others will have a more analytical view of tonight’s game. My view – i don’t think I’ve cheered a goal so much as when wor Callum putting us 3-1 up (goals away to the dark side being the obvious exception to this). Cannot wait until the Sunday game… oh and another home game on Monday.”

Brian Standen:

“Nervy but satisfying. Thoroughly deserved. Joelinton needs a statue now! CL is waiting for us.”

Billy Miller:

“Wasn’t that something? I was a nervous wreck in the concourse before the game but, if the players were feeling it, they didn’t show it. Dominant first half with Brighton barely getting anywhere near the Gallowgate. Second half was a lot more stressful. I wasn’t just biting my nails, I was near enough chomping off my fingertips. A late flourish made it an extremely enjoyable injury time. One win to take us to the promised land.”

Mattt Busby Said To Joe Harvey:

“Did we ride our luck? When I really think about it, whilst we were dead on our feet and seemingly hanging on at 2-1, we absolutely limited Hove Albion to that solitary chance that was converted into their only goal. So no, we actually turned in a resilient performance and restored the goal differential with the Scousers after their exploits at Leicester. Tell me ma seemed louder tonight than when we beat Southampton in the semi final. Beat the dead men walking from the East Midlands on Monday and we’re in the promised land. It might come sooner if Villa can win at Anfield. HTL.”

Newcastle 4 Brighton 1 – Thursday 18 May 7.30pm

Newcastle United:

Undav 22 OG, Burn 45+4, Wilson 89, Bruno 90+1

Brighton:

Undav 51

Possession was Brighton 66%  Newcastle 34%

Total shots were Brighton 8 Newcastle 22

Shots on target were Brighton 2 Newcastle 9

Corners were Brighton 1 Newcastle 6

Crowd: 52,122