Matchday thread - Toon v Brighton

[UlversToon]

Biggest game of the season, well until Monday anyway!

Originally due to be played in late February but delayed due to our Carabao Cup Final appearance, the Seagulls visit SJP on Thursday.

It's a 7.30pm start live on Sky Sports and a sell out.

United are unbeaten in their last three PL matches against Albion but have taken maximum points off them in the top flight just once in the 11 meetings to date.

Champions League qualification -
PL standings & remaining fixtures:

Pos Team Played GD Pts
3 Newcastle 35 +32 66
4 Manchester U 35 +10 66
5 Liverpool 36 +28 65
6 Brighton 34 +21 58

Thu 18.05.2023:
Newcastle v Brighton & Hove Albion (7.30pm) Sky

Sat 20.05.2023:
Bournemouth v Manchester United (3pm)
Liverpool v Aston Villa (3pm)

Sun 21.05.2023:
Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton (2pm)

Mon 22.05.2023:
Newcastle v Leicester City (8pm) Sky

Wed 24.05.2023:
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City (8pm) Sky

Thu 25.05.2023:
Manchester United v Chelsea (8pm) Sky

Sun 28.05.2023:
Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion (4.30pm)
Chelsea v Newcastle United (4.30pm)
Manchester United v Fulham (4.30pm)
Southampton v Liverpool (4.30pm)

NUFC: Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie won't feature, and Sean Longstaff is also unavailable for Thursday, although not yet ruled out of Monday's game.

There's a doubt over Jacob Murphy, on the bench at Elland Road but not called into action after reporting a slight groin strain.

Coral price this game as follows:

NUFC win 10/11
The draw 27/10
BHAFC win 14/5

BHAFC: Joel Veltman, Adam Lallana, Solly March, Tariq Lamptey, Jakub Moder, Jeremy Sarmiento and Adam Webster all miss out due to injury. Robert Sanchez also won't be in the travelling squad.

Ahead of their visit to Tyneside, Albion scored three goals without reply at Arsenal on Sunday - their eighth PL away victory of the season.

Likely to be in goal for the visitors is Jason Steele, a 32 year-old native of Newton Aycliffe whose senior team career includes stints at both Boro and the mackems.

Steele has just 12 top-flight appearances to his name since his PL bow in November 2021 and has kept six clean sheets in that sequence of games.

This is set be his first PL game against Newcastle but he has played at SJP previously, for Blackburn Rovers in their 1-0 Championship win in 2016/17. He also featured in our 0-1 loss at Ewood Park that season.

Referee: Robert Jones - a third appearance of the season for the North West whistler, following the 1-0 home victories over Chelsea and Fulham.

VAR: Jarred Gillett

UK TV: Live on Sky Sports

UK Radio: Live on talkSPORT

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Stats:

Newcastle are bidding to make it 11 home PL victories this season, which would be their biggest top-flight return since reaching that total in 2011/12.

Their best PL home campaign remains 1995/96, when they won 17 games at SJP, drew one and lost one.

Seagulls @ SJP - all-time:

2021/22 won 2-1 (PL) Fraser, Schar
2020/21 lost 0-3 (PL)
2019/20 drew 0-0 (PL)
2018/19 lost 0-1 (PL)
2017/18 drew 0-0 (PL)
2016/17 won 2-0 Lascelles, Shelvey (Ch)
1991/92 lost 0-1 (D2)
1990/91 drew 0-0 (D2)
1989/90 won 2-0 Gallacher, Quinn (D2)
1985/86 lost 0-2 (FAC)
1983/84 won 3-1 Keegan, Waddle, Beardsley (D2)
1982/83 lost 0-1 (FAC)
1978/79 lost 1-3 Shoulder (D2)
1961/62 won 5-0 Leek 3, Tuohy, Hale (D2)
1929/30 won 3-0 Gallacher 3 (FAC)

[gola]

Not looking forwrd to this!! my current place were i live agin my home, horrible. i love bton obvs and everythin about the place b scared scared scared for tonight if we win il be so happy

[bodacious benny]

Cliche, but the first goal in this is massive. If they get it then we don't win IMO, if we score first we go on to win.

Cannot start as slowly as we have for some games of late and need to cut out the sloppiness.

Kind of glad I'm out tonight as this will be a nervy watch.

[Tsi]

[Tsi]

Have to be on it from the kick off and like Benny said the first goal will be crucial.
I'd be ok with a draw as I feel the last two games are more than winnable, anything but a defeat for nothing else other than my nerves for the final games.

[Colly]

Absolutely shitting it, I can see the atmosphere being nervous as hell tonight. Hate the slightly earlier kickoff too as it's always touch and go after work.

I really don't want us having to go into the Chelsea game wanting a win, this game makes or breaks our season for me.

[seaside nipper]

Our recent record against them isn’t good.
Dunno how this will go tonight.
They have pace and if Gilmour is playing someone needs to close him down. Very underrated player, an absolute live wire and every time he picks the ball up his instinct is a quick forward pass
Usual with us , I worry about our lack of pace at the back.
Hopefully take our chances this time
Without seeing line ups its a bit unclear but hoping for a win , head says a draw.
It’s us , we are a black and white roller coaster , absolutely anything can happen

[UlversToon]

Absolutely s***ting it, I can see the atmosphere being nervous as hell tonight. Hate the slightly earlier kickoff too as it's always touch and go after work.

I really don't want us having to go into the Chelsea game wanting a win, this game makes or breaks our season for me.

Agreed, need the win tonight then it's one win from two, unless Villa get something from Liverpool, I would rather not have to win both the final two games.

A very, very nervy 2-0 win for The Toon.

[overseasTOON]

Tonight's gonna be a cracker and I reckon the first team to score 5 goals will win.

[Colback's Orange Tufts]

I'm not mad about that line up. Not sure about Isak out wide (and like him or Wilson as sub). Brighton will target Burn too

[originallad]

Bricking it a bit.

[overseasTOON]

Bricking it a bit.

Wishing I had a beer to calm the nerves.

[Blue & Maroon]

Not feeling good about this

[originallad]

Bricking it a bit.

Wishing I had a beer to calm the nerves.

No beers available in your current location?

[overseasTOON]

Wishing I had a beer to calm the nerves.

No beers available in your current location?

Only non alcoholic. Had a heavy weekend so made sure I'd have no mid week temptations.

Also forgot we played tonight

[originallad]

No beers available in your current location?

Only non alcoholic. Had a heavy weekend so made sure I'd have no mid week temptations.

Also forgot we played tonight

Gotta hate those 4 day hangovers

[Blue & Maroon]

I'm on the non alcoholic stuff as well!

Started well which us making me more fearful.

[Donkey Toon]

Caicedo og!!!

[originallad]

Woop!!

[Blue & Maroon]

That'll do!