There was relief for Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe in a week ​in which he met chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan to discuss the ‌club’s future plans as it defeated Brighton & ​Hove Albion 3-1 in the Premier League ⁠at St James’ Park on Saturday.

The victory ends a run of five straight defeats in all competitions for Newcastle ‌and will ease the pressure on Howe, at the same time catapulting the side back ‌into the equation for European football next ‌season.

Goals ⁠from William Osula, Dan Burn against his ⁠former side and Harvey Barnes sealed three points against an in-form Brighton team that had won six and drawn one of ​its previous eight Premier ‌League fixtures.

Newcastle rode its luck at times with uncertain goalkeeping from Nick Pope and several misses from Brighton, not least Yankuba Minteh, who blazed over ‌from a few metres out at the ​back post with the score at 2-1.

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“It felt very good, in the changing room ⁠before the game we knew today was important for us, chasing European football for next season. The points ‌are crucial, we keep dreaming and believing,” Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said.

“It was a tough game, Brighton are a good team. Today for everything we have done, we deserve the win. They had a lot of chances. In the first half we ‌were better but second half they were better. I am ​glad we could keep three points.”

Newcastle climbs to 13th place with 45 points from 35 ⁠games, now five points behind seventh-placed Brighton.

“We are looking ⁠up not down. We can still play European football next season, we must win the ‌next three games,” Guimaraes said.

Newcastle travels to Nottingham Forest and Fulham, and has a home game ​against West Ham United remaining this season.

Published on May 02, 2026