Neal Maupay scored twice as Brighton cruised to a comfortable Premier League victory over an under par Newcastle at St James’ Park.
It was a superb all-round showing from the Seagulls and the perfect response to losing their opening game to Chelsea.
French forward Maupay was the early beneficiary as Graham Potter’s side took control, scoring twice in the opening seven minutes, with his first goal coming via a penalty after the impressive Tariq Lamptey was tripped by Allan Saint-Maximin.
His second, which was checked by the video assistant referee for offside, was a close-range finish to the bottom left corner at the end of a move down the right involving Lamptey and Leandro Trossard.
Newcastle, who struggled to recover after a sluggish start, did not manage a shot until the 40th minute and failed to register one on target throughout the whole game.
Brighton, who saw Trossard hit the post from long distance, rounded off a fine performance when Aaron Connolly curled in a right-foot effort.
Yves Bissouma was sent off for the visitors late on when his attempted flick over his shoulder saw him catch Jamal Lewis in the face with a boot. It left both sides to finish the game with 10 players, Lewis unable to continue and the hosts having already used all their substitutes.
Lamptey continues to sparkle for Seagulls
While Potter was taking positives in defeat on Monday, he will have been delighted to see the industry and creativity of his side fully rewarded six days later.
A lightning start and some typically slick football saw his team slice through Newcastle on several occasions to gain a two-goal cushion they rarely looked like relinquishing.
Just as pleasing is the form of 19-year-old Lamptey, who was outstanding for the second successive week.
The recently capped England Under-21 international turned down a new contract at Chelsea last season in favour of a move to Brighton and on this evidence he appears to be making the most of playing regular first-team football.
Lamptey impressed when starting in seven of the Seagulls’ nine Premier League matches when football resumed in June and he has picked up where he left off.
An early break down the right served notice of his pace and awareness and moments later he drew a clumsy foul from Saint-Maximin to help set Brighton on their way.
His energy and quality were a feature throughout the first half. After contributing to Brighton’s second, he twice almost added a third goal himself, with one break across the length of the pitch following a Newcastle corner particularly catching the eye.
His talent was not just restricted to going forward with one superbly timed challenge on Callum Wilson preventing the forward from having a clear run on goal.
Despite being withdrawn after 58 minutes, Lamptey made more interceptions (four) and won more fouls (four) than any other player on the pitch.
Sluggish Newcastle struggle
While Newcastle made an assured start to their Premier league season at West Ham, this display was almost the exact opposite as they struggled against more energetic and fluent opponents.
Too often they were left chasing shadows in the early stages and appeared to have few ideas of how to cope with Brighton’s 3-4-3 formation.
Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden appeared overworked and outmanoeuvred in midfield and Andy Carroll and Wilson, who worked well together a week ago, were on the periphery.
Aside from Saint-Maximin, who was substituted with a first-half injury, no player that started had fewer touches than Newcastle’s front two, who both managed 21 each.
Manager Steve Bruce introduced three substitutes – Ryan Fraser, Miguel Almiron and Joelinton – but there was little improvement, with Wilson heading over a difficult chance from Almiron’s cross.
The only consolation for Bruce and Newcastle supporters was that the margin of their defeat was not even greater.
‘We do OK then we throw a hand grenade in’ – what they said
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce told BBC Sport: “We gave ourselves a mountain to climb. We’ve gifted them the first two goals. When you start like that it’ll be a difficult afternoon.
“We changed formation at half-time and it helped us slightly but we couldn’t recover from an awful 10 minutes. Since I’ve been here it’s like this. We do OK for a while, then we throw a hand grenade in. We’ve got to be better than we were today.”
On Yves Bissouma’s red card: “I don’t know what the lad is doing. He was showboating before that and it’s a nasty cut [to Jamal Lewis]. But it’s not the cut we’re worried about. He’s got an abrasion on his eye, we think. By the letter of the law it’s pretty obviously dangerous, I don’t know why he’s doing it when he’s left a mess like that. I don’t think he intended it but it’s stupid.”
Brighton manager Graham Potter told BBC Sport: “I’m delighted with the start. It reflects the attitude the players have had all week.
“To keep a clean sheet and score three goals, creating a few more opportunities and limiting our opponents to not much was positive. I’m delighted for the players. It’s good to get up and running in the Premier League.”
On Lamptey: “He’s so refreshing to work with. He threatens the back line with such pace but he also the desire to do it. He’s a fantastic boy who wants to improve and help the team. He’s a breath of fresh air since he has come in and I am delighted for him.”
On Bissouma’s red card: “Knowing Yves there won’t be any intent so it’s whether it’s an uncontrolled action. It’s the one disappointing bit of the game. We’re 3-0 up, there’s no need for Yves to hurt the player – he’s not that type of player anyway.”
Brighton find form on the road – the stats
Brighton have won back-to-back away Premier League games for the first time since November 2017.
Newcastle have lost three consecutive home Premier League matches for the first time since a run of five between August and October 2018.
This was Brighton’s second away Premier League win against Newcastle, with the Magpies the only team the Seagulls have beaten more than once away from home in the Premier League.
Brighton’s Neal Maupay scored twice in the opening seven minutes of the match, the earliest a player has scored twice in a Premier League match since Edin Dzeko scored twice in the opening four minutes against Norwich for Manchester City in December 2012.
Brighton have now won three of their past four away Premier League games (D1), as many as in their previous 27 games on the road (W3 D8 L15).
Newcastle conceded twice in the opening 10 minutes of a home Premier League game for the first time since February 2011 against Arsenal, when they let three in.
Newcastle defender Jamal Lewis has ended on the losing side in 12 of his 16 home Premier League games (11 for Norwich, one with Newcastle); among players to play at least 15 home games in the competition, no player has ended on the losing side in a higher proportion than Lewis’ 75% (Kevin Kyle also lost 75% of his home games).
What’s next?
Newcastle travel to Tottenham for their next Premier League fixture on Sunday, 27 September (14:00 BST). Brighton host Manchester United in their next league match on Saturday (12:30 BST).