SEAGULLS ARE STAGGERING OVER THE LINE

THE Brighton fans on the trains leading away from the Amex Stadium had enjoyed a sherbet or two and were singing about how they are staying up at Cardiff’s expense. They probably are, though that should not be celebrated. The way Chris Hughton’s side have gone about salvaging their Premier League status is not worthy of pats on backs. A gutless 2019 has seen them secure two wins in 16 games and a table since New Year’s Day shows how Brighton would be second bottom, ahead of only Huddersfield. On Saturday, they scored for the first time in more than 12 hours of football, with Pascal Gross’s second-half goal their first effort on target. Entertainment has been in short supply on the south coast. They have been accused of exhibiting anti-football — a term which angers Hughton. Yet Brighton’s boss has work to do if he is to ensure they are not relegation fodder next season. The past few months must serve as a reality check. ‘It’s a very emotional game,’ said Hughton. ‘With teams like us, there are ways. We know we are not going to bamboozle teams with open, attractive football and get lots of goals. We know we can’t do that. We are not that type of team and we don’t have that quality.’ In a pitiful first half, Brighton had zero shots on or off target and Ayoze Perez gave Newcastle a deserved lead. It was only in the second half that the home side woke up, with Gross equalising. Newcastle will now prepare for a mammoth match against Liverpool, though boss Rafa Benitez is the biggest topic of discussion. Will he stay or will he go? All he would say was: ‘We will have some meetings in the next week and then we will see where we are.’

KIERAN GILL at the Amex Stadium