Loss leaves Brighton wary of any more slips

it clear.

Moments later, Colback cut the ball across from left for Mo Diame but he failed to get a clean shot in.

Perez then forced a great save out of Kuszczak but Ritchie’s follow-up was chalked offside.

Referee Simon Hooper consulted his assistant Akil Howson before making the decision.

The two sides went in goalless at the break after a half which Newcastle had lacked that killer touch in the final third.

Six minutes into the second period Murphy made a cutting run down the left but his effort was blocked by Krystian Bielik.

On 54 minutes, Birmingham had to thank former Manchester United stopper Kuszczak after he tipped away Murphy’s looping header after a corner from the left-hand side.

Two minutes later Newcastle won a free-kick after Perez was fouled but Ritchie’s free-kick struck the wall.

Then on the hour mark, Jutkiewicz smacked an effort across the face of goal but Karl Darlow had it covered.

After a steady shift, Murphy was withdrawn with 63 minutes on the clock and replaced by top-scorer Dwight Gayle.

Mid-way through the second half Gayle burst down the left before the ball dropped for Colback but his deflected shot was saved brilliantly by Kuszczak.

With 16 minutes to go Gayle won a free-kick on the edge of the box but Ritchie’s effort struck the wall and the number 9’s follow-up was gathered by Kuszczak.

Moments later, Gouffran’s cross struck a defender and Kuszczak again grabbed the ball.

Jonjo Shelvey was thrown into the battle with just 12 minutes left after being left out of the starting XI due to a fever, replacing Perez for the closing stages.

There were just 10 minutes left when Ritchie struck a low shot at goal but Kuszczak managed to tip the ball wide.

As Newcastle looked for a smash and grab win Christian Atsu replaced Gouffran.

In the closing stages Birmingham’s lack of cutting edge was summed up when Jutkiewicz struck the home side’s first shot on target at Darlow who gathered easily.

With the game in the 90th minute Ritchie’s hopeful effort sailed wide of the righthand post.

Above, Tomasz Kuszczak frustrates United again. Left, Dwight Gayle finds some space to get a shot away LEEDS UNITED BRIGHTON 2 0