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Match report and free highlights as Newcastle extend unbeaten run in Premier League to eight matches with 2-1 win over Brighton at St James’ Park; Eddie Howe’s side now seven points above relegation zone; Brighton lose fourth consecutive game

Newcastle extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to eight matches with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Brighton at St James’ Park.

Two first-half goals in quick succession from Ryan Fraser (12) and Fabian Schar (14) saw the hosts take a comfortable 2-0 lead, before the visitors responded through Lewis Dunk’s header (55) early in the second half.

Despite Brighton’s dominance after the break, Newcastle – buoyed by substitute Allan Saint-Maximin’s return from a calf injury – held on to move seven points clear of the relegation zone. They stay 14th.

“I still think we’re in a relegation battle and it’s very important the players feel that because we can’t let up, we can’t stop,” Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said after the match.

“It’s lifted us in terms of the points, but we haven’t achieved anything.”

Brighton had lost none of the previous nine Premier League meetings between the sides, but the result on Tyneside sees them slip to 13th. They have lost four league games in a row for the first time since April 2019.

Hosts survive onslaught to ease relegation fears

Brighton dominated the early exchanges and central defender Shane Duffy was twice unable to hit the target from Pascal Gross set-pieces, with Joel Veltman firing high over in the meantime.

However, Newcastle took the game by the scruff of the neck inside three devastating minutes.

First, Chris Wood played the ball into Jacob Murphy’s path and saw him leave defender Marc Cucurella trailing in his wake before lifting a shot over Robert Sanchez, and although his attempt came back off the upright, Fraser was on hand to finish on the follow-up.

Only two more minutes had elapsed when the Seagulls were hit again, this time when Schar climbed highest to head Fraser’s right-wing free-kick firmly past the keeper.