Phil’s Mad for it as his boys break away duck
NEWCASTLE boss Rafa Benitez’s argument for new year reinforcements gained even greater strength as his side drew a blank.
Uncertainty over the club’s future ownership – talks between Toon chief Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners appear deadlocked – is the big problem for boss Benitez as he seeks a transfer war-chest. But make no mistake, the struggling Geordies face a prolonged relegation battle unless funds are made available and they were booed off here.
At least they brought a halt to a run of five home defeats, their worst sequence of results at St James’ Park for 64 years.
But Newcastle have won only one of their last 12 matches and picked up just five points in the process.
But Benitez (below) said: “I think, when it’s a game you are expected to win, there will be disappointment.
“But, at the same time, I think these fans appreciate the effort of the players is there, so you cannot complain about that. “It’s clear that we will be in a similar situation until the end of the season. “We have to stick together, stay calm and keep working hard.” Recalled Dwight Gayle was the one bright spark for the Toon, who made seven changes from the team that took on Manchester City in the week. Twice in the first 20 minutes, Gayle almost scored. With Bruno putting him under pressure, the Toon striker met Isaac Hayden’s cross from the right wing but failed to find the target with his header.
Then, from an acute angle, Gayle brought a near-post save out of keeper Mat Ryan after Mikel Merino had produced a magnificent through ball.
Gayle continued to search for an opening but when his shot was blocked, Merino dragged the follow-up wide.
Brighton offered little in terms of an end product – but Newcastle were relieved to see Shane Duffy’s header loop over from Pascal Gross’s left-wing corner shortly before the break.
Ryan had to make a smart stop when Hayden’s effort took a wicked deflection soon after the restart.
At the other end, keeper Karl Darlow – deputising for the injured Rob Elliot – was equal to Gross’s free-kick.
But Ryan came up with another fine save in the 58th minute, turning aside Gayle’s glancing header on the end of Christian Atsu’s left-wing cross.
The keepers kept trading saves, with Darlow reacting sharply to Lewis Dunk’s header after Duffy nodded Gross’s corner into the mix.
Brighton’s former Toon boss Chris Hughton said: “I thought, over the 90 minutes, we were the better side but we needed Mat Ryan to make a very good save for us.
“I think both teams are capable of staying up, but the hard part is to keep doing it to the end of the season.
“The mainstays of this league – the Evertons and West Hams – who haven’t had a great first half to the season, generally get stronger and get clear.”