Isak secures late penalty to earn Newcastle a well-deserved draw against Brighton

Newcastle’s aspirations for a top-five finish were dampened following a 1-1 stalemate with Brighton & Hove Albion. This result extended their winless streak in away Premier League fixtures to eight games, amidst a fiercely contested match that saw the Magpies thwarted by two VAR decisions that deprived them of crucial scoring opportunities.

With Arsenal struggling in recent outings, the prospect of Newcastle finishing as the best of the rest behind the dominating Liverpool has become increasingly tangible.

Neither side began with the sense of urgency typical of teams in contention, although Brighton understood that a win could enhance their chances of securing an eighth-place finish.

The visitors were the first to threaten the goal, with a snapshot from Harvey Barnes comfortably dealt with by Bart Verbruggen, who diverted the ball for a corner, while Joe Willock later surged down the left, sending a shot mere inches over the bar.

Newcastle lamented their missed opportunities just before the half-hour mark, as a familiar foe struck to put them behind.

Former Magpie Yankuba Minteh capitalised on the situation, entering the box and curling a delightful left-footed shot into the far corner.

Despite this setback, Eddie Howe’s men returned from the break with renewed confidence in their ability to equalise.

This belief was almost rewarded shortly after the restart when Mats Wieffer, already on a yellow card, made a reckless challenge on Sandro Tonali, but referee Craig Pawson remained indifferent to the protests.

Newcastle’s misfortunes continued as Anthony Gordon, who had just come on as a substitute, was tripped by Tariq Lamptey, prompting appeals for a penalty.

However, VAR intervened, confirming that the contact originated outside the penalty area, leading to the decision being overturned.

A similar situation unfolded later when Joe Willock appeared to have been brought down in the box by Jan Paul van Hecke, but once more, a VAR check ensured Brighton escaped a penalty.

Determined not to be disheartened, Newcastle pressed on in their quest for an equaliser, and luck finally favoured them when Yasin Ayari’s attempt to block a free-kick from Fabian Schär resulted in a handball.

After another lengthy VAR review, the decision went in Newcastle’s favour, leading to Alexander Isak stepping up to convert the penalty into the bottom corner.

Both Brighton’s Diego Gomez and Newcastle’s Callum Wilson missed crucial opportunities to secure a winner in stoppage time, and ultimately, each side had to settle for a share of the spoils, a result that offered little consolation for their respective European ambitions.

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