After Newcastle United won at Wolverhampton Wanderers in September, they were third in the Premier League table and reflecting on their best start to a top-flight season for 29 years.
But that encouraging opening to the campaign is in danger of being undermined by a run of results that has brought them two points from the subsequent four games, culminating in this loss to Brighton & Hove Albion at St James’ Park.
Danny Welbeck scored the winner in the first half — against the run of play — and Newcastle could not find a way through as their troubles in front of goal continued.
Chris Waugh dissects the main talking points.
How badly do Newcastle need Isak to hit scoring form?
Three games across all competitions without a centre-forward and 314 minutes without a goal in open play before this match, that stretched to 404 minutes — despite Alexander Isak returning to the XI.
In their last league game, at Everton, Newcastle lacked a cutting edge in the penalty area. During the opening five games of the season, Isak lacked service. During the first half against Brighton, only the former was true, despite the latter being provided with golden opportunities.
Isak was unfortunate that Jacob Murphy inadvertently blocked a goalbound early shot, but the Sweden international inexplicably missed the ball entirely when Bruno Guimaraes centred a header from the left-hand side. With the goal gaping and the ball dropping perfectly, Isak somehow slashed at thin air and did not get a shot away.
Alexander Isak has scored only one Premier League goal this season (George Wood/Getty Images)
That was costly enough, but Isak’s usual characteristic coolness deserted him when played through one one-on-one by Guimaraes. Bart Verbruggen may have spread himself wide in the Brighton goal, but Isak at peak fitness and form would have slotted his finish into the net. Instead, he whipped his effort off Verbruggen.
Newcastle have desperately needed the 25-year-old back in the side, yet it is evident — and understandable — that it will take Isak time to reach his top levels once more.
He had seven shots, four of them on target, with a total expected goals of 0.63, yet failed to find the back of the net.
Chances are now coming his way again, which is encouraging, but a striker who scored 32 goals in his first 49 Premier League starts for Newcastle must quickly rediscover his clinical touch.
What is the answer to the right-wing issue?
In the end, this was not the Yankuba Minteh derby. It was not about the player who got away — and the fear that he would score on what would actually have been his first St James’ Park appearance — but it was still very much about the position in which he plays.
Newcastle have needed a right-winger pretty much since the takeover was completed in October 2021 and yet, three years on, two players who were still at the club remain their main options there. Few expected Murphy to stay on Tyneside for long once the ownership changed, yet the 29-year-old has started six of the opening eight games.
While Murphy is an excellent character behind the scenes and is full of endeavour, his end product is often lacking. He has been preferred to Miguel Almiron this season and, although he has two assists, he has yet to score and against Brighton, his decision-making in the final third was poor again.
Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes, meanwhile, who Newcastle spent a combined £78million ($101.8m) on, are both better suited to playing on the left. Although the former has been trialled on the right, he started this match on the left, with Barnes once again dropping to the bench.
Newcastle’s poor summer transfer window was always going to have a negative effect at some stage this season and their failure to strengthen at right-sided forward is one of the issues costing them right now. In other circumstances, Minteh, who was sold for £30m to help satisfy the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), may perhaps have been the answer.
An end to a long unbeaten home run
For 35 minutes, it was all Newcastle. They were utterly dominant, created openings, had a greater share of possession, and simply did not let Brighton play.
But one moment can dramatically change momentum — and that is precisely what Welbeck’s opener did. Brighton gradually improved until the interval and then, after the break, they visibly grew in confidence while Newcastle lost their way.
Danny Welbeck scored Brighton’s winner against the run of play (Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Despite having 45 touches in the opposition box to Brighton’s 12, 21 shots to 10, and recording 1.95xG to 1.16, Newcastle simply could not score.
Once again, Newcastle’s profligacy and poor final-third decision-making cost them and this defeat feels particularly damaging given it was at St James’ Park, where Newcastle have been imperious under Eddie Howe.
This was only the eighth Premier League defeat Howe has suffered on Tyneside since his appointment on November 8, 2021. Newcastle were on an 11-match top-flight unbeaten run at home, stretching back to a 3-2 reversal against Manchester City on January 13, heading into this game.
Even when Newcastle’s away form has often deserted them over the past year, their results at St James’ have kept them fighting for European qualification. With Arsenal, West Ham United and Liverpool to come next on Tyneside, Newcastle need to make sure this is merely an aberration.
What next for Newcastle?
Sunday, October 27: Chelsea (A), Premier League, 2pm UK, 9am ET
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(Top photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
