CRACKED IT

CHRIS HUGHTON finally got the better of the team who sacked him seven years ago, thanks to the man that almost got away.

Tomer Hemed turned down moves to Reading, Leeds and Derby last month and it was the Israeli who hit the winner for Brighton.

His 51st-minute strike meant he had scored in back-to-back games at the Amex for the first time since February.

Hemed has also had a hand in 20 goals in his last 23 starts here and his latest effort gave Hughton his first win over Newcastle in seven attempts.

In 2010, Hughton was sacked by the Magpies, but since claimed it was the making of him as a manager.

Sweet

He will not admit it, but beating them yesterday must have felt pretty sweet.

Brighton were not always at their best and could have been behind at half time. But home wins are going to be crucial if they are to stay up, and this was a big one.

Newcastle had won their last three games and another victory would have seen them climb to fourth.

But while they had the best chances of the first half, they lack a real finisher.

Newcastle were the only team to do the double over Brighton in last season’s Championship and pipped them to the title.

While Hughton had insisted his side were not looking for revenge, there seemed to be an extra spring in their step. Newcastle’s flying start to the season has surprised many and they almost surprised Brighton inside three minutes.

Mikel Merino found himself in space just inside the box after Brighton failed to clear a corner and hit a peach of a volley which Mathew Ryan tipped around the post at full stretch.

The visitors survived a scare when a Seagulls corner caused an almighty goalmouth scramble before Hemed headed another chance wide.

Pascal Gross, so lethal at the Amex against West Brom, got Brighton moving in the 17th minute, feeding Anthony Knockaert in a sweeping move which nearly provided the opener.

Knockaert beat his man and spread the ball wide but when it came back in from Solly March, he got in the way of a goal-bound shot from Gross and the danger passed.

Having struggled to make and take chances for so long this season, there’s a new zip about them and Hemed was next to force a save from Rob Elliot.

But Joselu was only inches away from