ALL HAIL POPE
Nick shines to boost England chances
NICK POPE was Newcastle’s saviour at Brighton.
The England goalkeeper gave Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate a timely nudge ahead of November’s World Cup with a superb display to help earn his side a point.
Graham Potter’s Brighton side, like the Toon, remain unbeaten this season after this stalemate.
But in truth old failings in front of goal – plus the brilliance of Pope and goalline clearances from Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar – denied the home side the three points.
Pope and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale will be pushing Everton keeper and current England No.1 Jordan Pickford all the way ahead of Qatar.
Brighton striker Neal Maupay, linked with a £15million move to Nottingham Forest, was left out of the squad.
And Toon manager Eddie Howe moved former Seagull Dan Burn to left-back for the missing Matt Targett, with Sven Botman in for a full debut.
Leandro Trossard had an early shot deflected wide for a corner – the first of a flurry of three for the home side.
Callum Wilson had the ball in the net after 13 minutes but referee Graham Scott had already blown for a high boot.
After 20 minutes Trossard raced clear on the left and after getting a shot away that was parried by Pope, Danny Welbeck almost snaffled the rebound before the goalkeeper recovered.
Allan Saint-maximin was booked by the official for a dreadful and blatant dive.
With the temperature at 32 degrees the players got a mid-half drinks break – and there was another brief stoppage as away fans indicated a fan had taken ill.
The referee refused a penalty as the ball hit the hand of Schar from close range. And Brighton and Solly March thought they had scored after 32 minutes, but his effort was superbly cleared by Trippier.
Three minutes after the break Pope brilliantly saved a close-range Adam Lallana header.
A touchline clash between March and Joelinton sparked an ugly 20-player melee, with both receiving the yellow card.
Burn headed a corner over against his old club but Pope was the Toon saviour once again after 72 minutes, saving from the unlucky March.
Schar then produced another goalline clearance before last week’s two-goal hero, Pascal Gross, missed a sitter late on.