At a glance
- Brighton vs Newcastle preview: Seagulls chase European spot after 3-0 Chelsea win
- Paul Merson predicts 1-1 draw despite Newcastle’s poor form
- Danny Welbeck key again as Brighton eye Champions League push
Brighton continue their European push on Saturday as they travel up north to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle. Paul Merson has made his predictions ahead of the tie.
Confidence will be high amongst the Brighton camp as they are coming off the back of a 3-0 thrashing against Chelsea. The Seagulls now sit in pole position to secure European football for the second time in their history. They are sixth in the table and will remain their with a win over a struggling Newcastle side.
Paul Merson Newcastle vs Brighton Prediction
In the reverse fixture, Brighton came out 2-1 winners and claimed all three points. It was the Danny Welbeck show has he scored his second brace of the season. His first, a ball played through leading to a one on one with Nick Pope, which he calmly dinked over him. After Woltemade equalised in brilliant fashion, Welbeck responded eight minutes later as he was left in acres of space on the edge of the box to place it past a helpless diving Pope.
A repeat result would do the Albion just fine and would really get fans believing of another European tour. However, Merson envisions another outcome following his prediction of the game. Writing for Sportskeeda, the ex-Arsenal man has predicted that the match will finish in a 1-1 draw. Despite Newcastle losing five of their last five games in all competitions, Paul Merson believes the Toon will stop the rot.
“This is the kind of game that can add more pressure on Newcastle”, Merson exclaimed. “They lost to Bournemouth in their last home game and here, the fans would be sitting and thinking, ‘how are the likes of Sunderland and Crystal Palace above us in the table?’ This is a big game for Brighton. If they win, that opens up a route to Champions League qualification.”
Paul Merson Predicts a Spanner in the Works for Brighton
With his predictions of a draw, it would mean Brighton drop points for just the second time since their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on the 4th of March. Along with the Brighton prediction, Merson has favoured Bournemouth and Chelsea in their respective fixtures. Meaning both teams would leapfrog Brighton, dropping the Seagulls down to eighth with just three games to go.
Why Paul Merson Could Be Wrong About Newcastle vs Brighton
Despite his prediction of a draw, as a Brighton fan myself I’m quietly confident ahead of this matchup. Brighton have seemed to turn a corner under Fabian Hurzeler. Following the 3-0 loss away at Anfield in the FA Cup on the 14th of February, the Seagulls have won six of their last eight games, losing just once to Arsenal. With Europe firmly in their sights, motivation amongst the squad couldn’t be higher.
Danny Welbeck also boasts a phenomenal record against Newcastle United, having scored four goals in his last four games against them and finding the net in each of his last two visits to St James’ Park. After spending a season with Sunderland in 2010/11, a goal against Newcastle carries added significance for him. With his recent run of strong performances, Welbeck will also be hoping to push for a late England call-up.
Moving onto the opposition. Newcastle have had a torrid time under Eddie Howe over the last couple months. With just two wins in the league since the 10th of February and currently stuck in a five game losing run, fans have grown frustrated, calling for him to be sacked.
However hopes have been boosted with the return of Bruno Guimaraes after a two month absence through injury. The difference between them when he plays and doesn’t play is night and day. Their win percentage falls 28% when he doesn’t feature, which shows us how crucial he is to them. It will certainly make the trip north for Brighton that much more difficult.
Table Overview
With just four matches remaining, the situation is becoming increasingly clear. As previously noted, Brighton are currently in a strong position to secure European football. Supporters will no doubt be anticipating the prospect of further European nights under the lights. The club’s significantly superior goal difference—better than all rivals except Chelsea—provides a notable advantage, effectively acting as an additional point. Nevertheless, the team must approach each match with focus and consistency to ensure they see the task through without setbacks.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 34 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 48 | 39 | +9 | 50 |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 34 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 49 |
| 8 | Chelsea | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 53 | 45 | +8 | 48 |
| 9 | Brentford | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 49 | 46 | +3 | 48 |
| 10 | Fulham | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 44 | 46 | −2 | 48 |
| 11 | Everton | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 47 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 36 | 45 | −9 | 46 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 33 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 36 | 39 | −3 | 43 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 46 | 50 | −4 | 42 |
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