Brighton visited St James’ Park, played poorly for the first 35 minutes, yet still managed to leave with all three points against Newcastle in the Premier League.
While such results can happen, there are growing concerns at Newcastle. Eddie Howe is reportedly set to demand a thorough investigation into the team’s lack of goals, with club legend Alan Shearer offering a harsh critique of Newcastle’s finishing.
Alexander Isak has struggled to find his form, though he’s not the only one. Newcastle failed to truly convince in attack, despite creating several big chances. Their lack of sharpness in the final third is evident, and it’s telling that only five teams have scored fewer than Newcastle’s eight goals this season.
A controversial moment also arose during the match. Newcastle were denied a penalty after a VAR check, despite the ball appearing to hit Brighton’s Joel Veltman on the arm. A former referee weighed in on Sky Sports News, saying: “His arm was in a natural position – good decision, no penalty.”
Newcastle could soon receive a much-needed boost ahead of their match against Chelsea. Although Callum Wilson has struggled with injuries, his goal-scoring ability is unquestionable when fit. Fortunately, Wilson is reportedly close to returning and had even told people he might be available for the Brighton game.
If Wilson is ready for the Chelsea fixture, it could allow Isak to rest, potentially revitalizing Newcastle’s attack.
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