The first of our final four games and it’s a tricky one for Newcastle United, who travel to a stadium we’ve not won at since Mo Diame’s freak goal in 2017!
Brighton have beaten us twice this season in tight wins at St James’ Park, but we have already shown our ability to rise to the occasion this season, winning at Wembley in March and picking up 20 wins in our last 26 since early December.
Man City’s 1-0 win over Wolves last night means we dropped to fourth on Friday night, yet there was a big opportunity missed from top five rivals Nottingham Forest on Thursday, who missed their chance to move above us with a 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford.
But, on a weekend where Aston Villa face Fulham and Chelsea take on Liverpool, we have to focus on ourselves first and foremost. It’s in our hands and we’ll take another massive step towards the Champions League if we can leave the South Coast with three more points on Sunday.
Howe’s pre-match comments
On final four games – “You want to be in control of your destiny. I think with four games to go we are, but we’re very aware it can change in one round of games. There’s no let up for us. Our run of results has been impressive but what we don’t want to do is tail off right at the end so tough fixtures to come but we believe in the team.”
On Joelinton’s injury – “The likelihood is that it will be difficult [if he will play again this season]. But with Joe you never rule him out. He’s so motivated to try and come back. He had a bit of discomfort in his knee last week before the game so we sought specialist opinion and the opinion was it was nothing serious but he needed a period of rest so he’s now in Brazil. We’ll wait and see if we can get him back before the end of the season but the likelihood is probably not.”
On Brighton test – “I think we always have a tough game against Brighton. We’ve had some good results at St. James’ Park, historically, but not so much this season with the two games we lost. I thought they were really tight and could have gone either way.
“They’re a very good team, it’s a good atmosphere and it’s good for the away team as it’s a lovely pitch. We would back ourselves against anybody but certainly know we’re going to have to play at our very best because it’s never an easy game there.”
Team news
Joelinton is ‘unlikely’ to play again this season, meaning Joe Willock is in line to step into the side, while Sven Botman has trained all week and will be pushing for a start along with a fit-again Anthony Gordon.
Jamaal Lascelles remains out along with Lewis Hall, with Matt Targett (hamstring) also expected to sit out the final four games following another injury.
Brighton welcome back Jan Paul van Hecke, Karou Mitoma, Joël Veltman, Tariq Lamptey and Igor, but Joao Pedro is suspended and Georginio Rutter injured. Former Mag Yankuba Minteh could start down their right.
Predicted line-up
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento – Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock – Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
Much of the talk this week has centred around who replaces Joelinton in midfield. Many have called for Lewis Miley, but Howe’s pre-match comments suggest Joe Willock will get a run in the side.
Howe insists he still has a lot of faith in the former Arsenal man and hinted on Friday morning that a run of games could be key to get the ball-carrying midfielder get back to his best.
He didn’t grab the game against Ipswich’s 10 men last weekend and needs to step up in big Joe’s absence, so let’s hope we start to see the best of little Joe in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere, the only other dilemma centres around Anthony Gordon. He’ll be back into the side before long, but I think we’ll see Barnes given the nod again here.
Match prediction
Believe it or not, we haven’t drawn ANY of our last 27 games, with our last coming in a 3-3 against Liverpool way back on December 4th.
I was tempted to go with a 2-2 draw, but Brighton have conceded 15 goals in their last six games and have only won one of their previous seven, with that victory coming thanks to two last-gasp strikes against West Ham last weekend.
If Isak can rediscover his shooting boots and Willock can step up in Joelinton’s absence, I think we’ll edge them out and pile the pressure on Chelsea in Sunday’s 4pm kick-off.
Prediction: Brighton 1-2 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
Two really BIG IF’s Olly, Isak rediscovering his shooting boots and Willock stepping up!
Three options for me :-
1. Bring Botman in for a back five.
2. Play Miley instead of Willock.
3. Be outrageous and play Osula who has bags of raw energy and would support Isak who will be up against it with their centre backs and play 424 with Tonali and Bruno as two holding midfielders.
Joseph(Quote)
This is a crucial match if we want CL. We must assume all our rivals will pick up points so we must go all out for a win and break the hoodoo that we seem to have with Brighton. Lose and we could be 6th at the end of the weekend. I can see Liverpool playing a weaker side against Chelsea and Forest will be stung by their defeat. We must win.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Arsenal lose at home to Bournemouth! 😳😳
Gilly Toon(Quote)
It’s in our hands now, just gotta get it done, Joelinton will be a miss.
kimtoon(Quote)
Absolutely Kim. We have to go into each of these last 4 games with the same mindset we had when facing Liverpool in the cup final. Let’s see.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Joelinton will be a massive miss imo. The way he charges round our midfield breaking things down is huge imo. But he always moves the ball forward really well.
My answer would be to play Gordon in there and let him & Barnes cause havoc on that left side.
I’m not sold on Willock. Not saying he’s a bad player just very hit & miss. He’d be one I’d look to sell in the summer along with Longstaff.
Win today and im sure we take one of those top 5 spots.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It just had to be Minteh didn’t it? 😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Poor! We need a step change in performance here if we are going to get anything here.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Clear second yellow. Very poor refereeing 😡😡😡😡😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
With Andy Madley on VAR I guess that’s what we can expect. Twa.ts
Gilly Toon(Quote)
You have me puzzled. Who deserved a second yellow? Their only player to be yellow carded had been subbed. And let’s face it Willock dived.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Obvious handball pen
kimtoon(Quote)
Right decision
kimtoon(Quote)
Man utd games lively
kimtoon(Quote)
Fair result
kimtoon(Quote)
Should’ve won that. Finally we got a penalty though they looked long and hard to try take it away again. Good penalty from Isak but poor performance overall. I’ll take a point though.
Let’s hope Liverpool are not already on their holidays against Chelsea later.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Prem, the player that was subbed, Weiffer, should have been given a second yellow card for a bad tackle before he was subbed. They subbed him immediately after he got away with the second offence
Gilly Toon(Quote)
There was contact with Willock although agreed, it was minimal. Seen them given against us. It is what it is.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
On second look, agreed, no contact for Willock.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Right then Liverpool do us a favour and beat Chelsea.
kimtoon(Quote)
Can’t believe that Man utd side could possibly get CL place,woeful this season. Spuds not much better either.
kimtoon(Quote)
What annoys me is whoever wins that cup get £100m next season. Not having that would put serious PSR constraints on them. Hope they both lose.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Soz thought you were suggesting Lampey should have had a second.
PremAndUp(Quote)
It’s infuriating mate.
kimtoon(Quote)