HUGH AND CRY
Hemed strike sinks Toon bringing a huge smile to Hughton’s face as his Seagulls cause misery to Ashley - the man who sacked him
HE is way too classy to admit it, of course.
But Chris Hughton will have loved finally stuffing Mike Ashley, the man who sacked him after he led Newcastle to promotion seven years ago.
Tomer Hemed inflicted the decisive blow for Brighton – and their manager – early in the second half.
Yet Hughton, with his quiet dignity, has never been one for looking back in anger. Instead he will relish building up a club that actually appreciates him.
He may even breathe a sigh of relief that the Magpies, engulfed by the same frustrations as when he left them in 2010, are no longer his problem.
It is Rafa Benitez who must now deal with the issues at St James’ Park. No money made available, no striker and a result to symbolise life as a Toon fan – tantalisingly close to rolling with the big boys only to fall short.
Good luck holding on to the Spaniard if a comparable club with more ambition comes knocking. Victory here, against a team they would expect to beat, would have seen Newcastle end the weekend in the top four.
Instead they have missed out because of – wait for it – a lack of investment in the team.
Benitez sniffed around the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Arsenal’s Lucas Perez during the transfer window.
Instead he is stuck with £5million Joselu because of owner Ashley’s reluctance to splash out.
The former Stoke striker scored only four times in 27 appearances for the Potters during the 2015-16 season. On loan at Deportivo La Coruña last term his record was just six in 24.
When he scuffed wide his latest sitter, midway through the first half, it came as no surprise to seasoned Magpies watchers. It was a level of finishing they had come to expect, a sense of frustration all too familiar. There are those who believe the fans giving Ashley stick should be more grateful. It is not as if he never puts his hand in his pocket. He bankrolled the Championship title success under Benitez last season, bringing in 12 players – including £12m Matt Ritchie and £10m Dwight Gayle. Back in the Premier League however, the club’s transfer business simply has not been good enough. When you hang on to a high-class head coach such as Benitez, you surely give him the tools to work with, the finance to have a go.
Newcastle could have played for another two hours here at the Amex Stadium and not scored.
Brighton though were inventive and determined from the outset. The points Albion pocketed lifted them out of the bottom three and will have done wonders for confidence.
When it came, the winner was worked to perfection. Pascal Gross floated in a freekick, Dale Stephens peeled off to the back post and was unmarked when he headed back into the danger area for Hemed to hook the ball home.
The Israeli striker may well be in trouble with the FA after appearing to stamp on defender DeAndre Yedlin.
Hughton celebrated the goal, fists clenched. Benitez reacted in a way by now familiar to millions – arms up, then down by his sides in despair.
Liverpool next week may give Newcastle a taste of what quality finishing should be like.