Brighton 3-1 Newcastle: Evan Ferguson nets his first Premier League hat-trick as Roberto De Zerbi’s high-flying Seagulls condemn hapless Magpies to their third successive defeat
Simply as effectively the switch window closed 24 hours earlier. For these high golf equipment nonetheless searching for objectives, right here they’re, within the boots of a youngster who performs like a person. What value for Evan Ferguson proper now?
Fortunately, for Brighton, they don’t have to consider a valuation, a minimum of not till January. The 18-year-old had three probabilities right here and scored every of them. He was sensational. The Seagulls paraded Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati earlier than kick-off, however Ferguson is the actual boy marvel.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer would have been watching, and he must be much less apprehensive about Harry Kane returning at some point to interrupt his Premier League scoring document as he ought to Ferguson sticking round and making a bid for his tally of 260. That’s 10 and counting now.
The strapping teen left to a standing ovation on 81 minutes, by which period he had knocked Newcastle off their toes. And what of the losers? They, in contrast, had been a shambles.
Eddie Howe has banned late nights for his gamers on the again of Jamaal Lascelles’ involvement in a 4am road brawl. Nicely, he must introduce some early mornings.
Evan Ferguson netted a hat-trick as Brighton comfortably defeated Newcastle on the Amex
The 18-year-old striker capitalised on an error from Nick Pope to provide the hosts the lead
Ansu Fati watched on after becoming a member of the Seagulls on mortgage from Barcelona on deadline day
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This was a 3rd straight defeat for a crew who didn’t lose three video games till March final season. Sure, they’ve come towards Manchester Metropolis, Liverpool and now an excellent Brighton. However the opposition don’t dictate your power ranges, and Newcastle had been hopelessly low on that entrance as the sport wore on.
If star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes desires a brand new contract – and he does – he has to make his pitch on the pitch, and proper now he’s lucky to even be there.
The Brazilian, so influential in Newcastle’s rise from the underside of the Premier League to the Champions League, has began this season out of kinds and, seemingly, out of practice. He’s transferring himself nor the ball significantly convincingly.
There’s a rising feeling that he and £52million summer time signing Sandro Tonali can’t function in the identical midfield and Newcastle’s determination to not add a No.6 in the course of the window was made to look short-sighted right here.
Their engine-room was low on gasoline from the off and so they had been schooled by one other relative rookie, Brighton’s Billy Gilmour. However Howe’s issues lengthen past the center of the park.
At this stage, what a goalkeeper does together with his toes is of equal significance to any helpful work. Cease photographs and begin assaults is the obligation. Roberto De Zerbi was livid with Bart Verbruggen when he failed to fireside a ball into midfield to interrupt Newcastle’s press early on.
A minimum of the keeper had saved possession, as an alternative rolling a go to his full-back. If solely Newcastle’s Nick Pope had carried out that within the moments earlier than Brighton’s opening purpose on 27 minutes.
Pope’s kicking will not be his robust go well with. And quite than try to search out team-mate Kieran Trippier with a Brighton ahead closing in, he opted in addition downfield. He was, although, left kicking himself when his scuffed clearance landed on the toes of Pervis Estupinan.
From that Pope made a subsequent save however Tonali swung a lazy leg on the unfastened ball and was simply as sluggish in closing down Gilmour, permitting him to strike heading in the right direction.
Pope made it seem like the midfielder had despatched a bar of cleaning soap goalwards and his fumble was slammed in by Ferguson. For Newcastle, it was a grubby concession.
Come half-time, the guests may level to a number of high quality probabilities as cause for optimism. However actually these openings masked a efficiency absent of their standard depth and composure.
Had Alexander Isak proven extra of the latter inside the primary jiffy then Newcastle may need been 2-0 up. He was despatched clear on purpose by Guimaraes inside 40 seconds however needed too lengthy to determine on his end. We’ll by no means know what he had deliberate, for Jan Paul van Hecke recovered to steal.
Perhaps Isak was nonetheless excited about that missed probability when Tonali drew again for him on three minutes. The Swede was unmarked 10 yards out however his connection was panicked and bobbled broad. Brighton had began chilly on a scorching day and De Zerbi ripped off his jumper as he threatened to boil over.
Ferguson was once more available after the break to double his facet’s lead with a curled effort
Ferguson netted once more minutes later to finish his first-ever Premier League hat-trick
Consequence sees Newcastle having picked up simply three factors from their first 4 video games this season
Substitute Callum Wilson netted a comfort in stoppage time nevertheless it was too little too late for the Magpies
From there, the house facet discovered their toes and Newcastle misplaced their heads. They had been lucky to enter half-time trailing by only one and Joao Pedro ought to have added a house second when scooping over from six yards.
Ferguson’s second, on 65 minutes, was each an superior end and surprising defending. Tonali had been hooked by now however little had modified and Newcastle’s midfield was bypassed as Gilmour slipped a go to the striker, in area 25 yards out. Newcastle’s defence ran away and so they had each cause to be fearful as Ferguson discovered the underside nook.
His hat-trick purpose six minutes later owed one thing to a deflection off Fabian Schar – the defender’s careless leg captured his facet’s listless second-half show – however that luck was deserved in securing the primary match ball of his profession. Callum Wilson nicked a comfort in stoppage-time.
There’ll, you are feeling, be many extra trebles in Ferguson’s profession. Brighton ought to get pleasure from him whereas they’ll.