Longstaff salvages a point for Newcastle
Newcastle United missed the chance to tighten its grip on a UEFA Europa League place after a 1-1 draw in its final Premier League home game of the season against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Sean Longstaff reacted quickly to turn in an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, ensuring Newcastle maintained a 100 per cent record of scoring at home in the league, after Joel Veltman had given the Seagulls the lead.
Anthony Gordon thought he had slotted in the winner late on, only to be denied by the offside flag.
The point leaves Newcastle in sixth, three points clear of Chelsea below it, while Brighton moves about Bournemouth into 10th.
Brighton soaked up an early spell of Newcastle pressure before turning the tide, sparking both sides into action. A corner in the 17th minute saw Veltman fire home from close range as he was left unmarked at the back post.
The Magpies grew back into the tie though, with Bart Verbruggen forced into a reflex save on his goalline to keep out Dan Burn’s thumping header.
At the other end, Julio Enciso missed two golden chances. He got caught under a header that looped over the bar before watching a low shot trickle wide of the left post.
Verbruggen made another superb save to keep out Alexander Isak’s volley, but he could do nothing about Longstaff’s first-time finish down the middle minutes later, on the stroke of half-time.
Newcastle’s best chance of a winner in the second half was almost gifted to it. Tariq Lamptey slid in to stop Anthony Gordon from getting a tap-in, but Verbruggen was instead required to tip the looping clearance over the bar.
Jacob Murphy and Enciso both saw tame shots saved at either end before Harvey Barnes came off the bench to blaze a first-time shot high over the bar from close range.
In the 86th minute, Gordon thought he had scored the deciding goal, slotting into an empty net after being teed up by Miguel Almiron, but the Paraguayan was offside, and it did not stand.
For the first time in Premier League history, Newcastle has scored in all 19 of its home matches.
Longstaff’s equaliser ensured that Eddie Howe’s side hit the back of the net in 100 per cent of its matches at St James’ Park for the first time since 1982-1983, while it previously did so in the top-flight back in 1958-1959.
Newcastle has scored 79 Premier League goals this season, already its highest tally in a 38-game season.