Post-match report for our last game: Newcastle, Saturday, 20th October 2018
PREMIER LEAGUE; Newcastle v Brighton
ALBION SEE THINGS IN BLACK & WHITE
VENUE; St James Park, Newcastle. Fifth away game of 9 fixtures.
RESULT; 0-1 ~ Kayal . (h-t 0-1) . SHAPE; 4-4-1-1
OVERTURE; the league resumed after a second international break and several Seagulls players flew back from various parts of the globe. Despite a squad containing more quality overall, an away win continued elusive since beginning of last November.
GATE; 50,329
CHRIS HUGHTON checked his injury list to find Stephens & Bong now fit. His dilemma was with which type of formation to employ but crucially went with attacking options in support of the point man.
TEAM; . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. . . . . . . 2 Bruno, 4 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 3 Bong
. 16 Jahanbakhsh, 6 Stephens, 7 Kayal, 19 Izquierdo
. . . . . . . 20 March, . . . . 17 Murray
BENCH; 27 Button, 14 Balogun, 11 Knockaert, 10 Andone, 9 Locadia (16), 30 Bernardo (68), 8 Bissouma (80).
GOAL; 29 - 0-1. KAYAL got the last touch following a corner headed on by Duffy to Izquierdo who let fly.
INCIDENTS; 8 - MURRAY was clouted from behind in an illegal aerial challenge and knocked unconscious. Eight minutes later he was stretchered from the field and taken to hospital.
YELLOWS; 43 - Kayal got booked as hosts pressured prior to the break. 74 - Jahanbakhsh showed a combative side chasing around.
SUBS; 16 - Locadia replaced the unfortunate stricken Murray. 68 - Bernardo came on for Bruno who had back pains. 80 - Bissouma got inserted in lieu of Izquierdo to shore up central midfield.
ANALYSIS; an overdue single goal victory ground out against a goalless & luckless home outfit. Fortune favoured the brave as Albion put bodies on the line with a dominant defensive display.
Travellers worked socks off to block or deflect any amount of offensive action from increasingly threatening but desperate locals. It was not perhaps a match of ongoing fine margins, merely the significant result.
NUMBERS; poss 68%-32%, on target 6-2, off target 12-4, corners 10-2, fouls 13-17, yellows 0-2, subs 1-3. MoM Kayal.
Fatmanslims
TABLE:
Po . P . GD . Pt
12 . 9 . -3 . 11 BRIGHTON
13 . 9 . -7 . 8 Burnley
14 . 8 . -4 . 7 Palace
15 . 9 . -6 . 7 West Ham
16 . 9 . -8 . 6 Southampton
17 . 9 . -11 . 5 Cardiff
18 . 9 . -14 . 5 Fulham
19 . 9 . -14 . 3 Huddersfield
20 . 9 . -8 . 2 Newcastle
