Premier League preview: Five memorable Newcastle vs Brighton clashes
Another huge game awaits Newcastle United as they host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, May 2.
The Seagulls have got the better of the Magpies in recent years, ever since their first season in the Premier League back in 2017.
Still, from Mohammed Diame's freak goal to the Mackem at heart striking a dagger into Geordie hearts, and from the "Mighty Quinn" being a hat-trick hero to the VAR penalty drama, all the way to the "Mackem at heart" rubbing salt into Geordie wounds, the two sides have had memorable games over the years.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu takes a look at five memorable clashes between the Mags and the Seagulls.
Brighton 1-2 Newcastle United, February 28 2017
The Mohammed Diame freak goal
The two sides had already played each other earlier that Championship season, with Newcastle winning 2-0 over a 10-man Brighton after Sam Baldock was sent off with a second yellow.
The Magpies conceded the lead after a controversial penalty decision as Glen Murray buried it from the spot inside 14 minutes.
They went into half-time a goal behind after missing a glorious chance to level as Christian Atsu missed from eight yards out.
The clock was ticking down as the game reached the 81st minute, and Newcastle had a corner.
David Stockdale punched the ball out to Atsu's feet, who mishit it, and the ball spun off Diame, looped into the air, and into the top-right corner, eclipsing Stockdale and leaving everyone in disbelief.
To add even further wounds, Atsu found space on the left and crossed in a ball for Ayoze Perez, who finished from close range for an 89th-minute winner, stunning Brighton.
Newcastle 1-2 Brighton, March 2, 2025
The Mackem at heart breaks Geordie hearts
It was in 2025 that both sides got drawn together in the FA Cup fifth round.
Before he burnt any bridges on Tyneside, Alexander Isak still provided a goal threat.
The Magpies were awarded a penalty inside 22 minutes, which Isak scored and put his side in front.
But their lead didn't last long as Yankuba Minteh scored against the club that sold him that summer, evening the score to 1-1 at half-time.
A cagey affair in the second, with both teams still locked in at 1-1 and extra time looming, Anthony Gordon was shown a red card in the 83rd minute after pushing Jan Paul van Hecke in the head.
For a moment, Brighton had an advantage, until both teams evened up at 10 when Tariq Lamptey received a second yellow after a late challenge on Jacob Murphy.
The Magpies had thought for a second they had won it within the dying minutes of regular time, but VAR ruled out Fabian Schar's cushioned volley for offside.
Extra time beckoned, and with it, deadlocked still for most of the 120 minutes, and penalties loomed, ex-Sunderland man, Danny Welbeck, emerged as a hero with a chipped ball over Martin Dubravka, sending the away fans wild.
Newcastle 3-0 Brighton, October 21, 1989
The "Hippofatamous" hat-trick victory
After a Seagulls victory in the 1986 FA Cup third round, knocking out Newcastle, the two sides met again three years later in the old Second Division, which saw an inspired performance from Mick Quinn.
Quinn opened the scoring inside 25 minutes with a well-placed header after Kevin Dillon "laid it on a plate for him", and the lead doubled after half-time as Quinn scored on the rebound after Gary Brazil's header was saved.
Brighton nearly grabbed one back, but Nicky Bassett's shot deflected off the crossbar.
With Brighton unable to capitalise, they would suffer the consequences as Quinn completed his hat-trick in the 86th minute after a pass from Brazil. He struck through on goal, killing the game off.
Newcastle finished third that season on 80 points, missing out on second by five points; meanwhile, Brighton finished 18th with 54 points.
Newcastle 1-1 Brighton, May 4, 2025
The trouble with VAR
Alexander Isak sealed a draw for the Magpies at the Amex after they had two previous penalty decisions overturned by VAR.
Much like he did in the FA Cup tie that same season, Minteh scored against his former club, this time putting his current club in the lead as the Magpies chased them down.
There were two penalty shouts for Newcastle that VAR intervened in this game: the first was when Tariq Lamptey fouled Anthony Gordon in the 18-yard box, which was waved off, and the second saw Joe Willock booked with a yellow card for diving.
There was also a penalty claim for Brighton when Matt O'Riley appeared to be caught by Sandro Tonali, but referee Craig Pawson waved it off, too.
Not a lot of chances were created throughout the game, as it took 52 minutes for Brighton to have their next shot.
The Seagulls paid the price for their poor attacking efforts, as Yasin Ayari handballed Fabian Schar's free kick that headed towards goal.
The third time was the charm after a lengthy VAR check. Newcastle were given a penalty, in which Isak converted from the spot and nearly snatched a goal in stoppage time when Callum Wilson forced Bart Verbruggen into a save.
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Brighton 2-1 Newcastle, October 18, 2025
Welbeck fuels Geordie rage again
A look back on what happened last time out, Welbeck loves to score against Newcastle, grabbing a brace in a memorable home performance, sending the Geordies into the away end in a rage of disbelief.
The home side, having had most of the lead after Welbeck's goal in the 41st minute, slipped up in the 76th minute when substitute Lewis Miley squared the ball for Woltemade, scoring with a lovely back-heel finish.
And just when you thought Newcastle might have escaped the Amex with a point, Welbeck had other ideas.
He produced a finish of poise and precision in the 84th minute, bending the ball past Pope to secure the winner for Brighton, adding misery to what has become a painful season for Newcastle fans.
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