Newcastle United hold off Brighton in goalless draw

Updated: May 16, 2023, 11:55 pm

Brighton & Hove Albion were thwarted by two goal-line clearances as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Newcastle United in their Premier League clash at a sun-drenched Amex Stadium on Saturday.

The game got off to a flying start as Brighton pinned back the visitors for the first 10 minutes before Newcastle started to hit back with lightning-quick counter attacks.

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Solly March looked to have given Brighton the lead in the 33rd minute but fullback Kieran Trippier was on hand to clear the ball off the line, with replays showing that most of the ball was over the line.

Goalkeeper Nick Pope made a brilliant save early in the second half, clawing away Adam Lallana's header after Brighton's attacking midfielder had been left unmarked in the box.

Tempers boiled over in the 57th minute though, when Joelinton and March got involved in a shoving match down by the corner flag, with both players getting shown the yellow card.

Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar both cleared efforts off the line in Newcastle's goalless draw with Brighton.
David Horton - CameraSport

The water break shortly afterwards -- introduced this weekend due to scorching temperatures -- was well-earned following a goalmouth scramble that saw Brighton go close, only for Newcastle to zip up the other end on the counter in a move stopped by a last-ditch tackle on Miguel Almiron.

Newcastle continued to threaten on the break and from set pieces, but it was Brighton who went closest to breaking the deadlock, forcing a number of saves from Pope and a goal-line clearance from Fabian Schar as the game finished scoreless.

After winning their opening league fixtures last weekend, the draw leaves both sides on four points.

"The performance was fantastic. Although we should have won we're incredibly proud. We were playing against a top team," Brighton manager Graham Potter said.

"Credit to the goalkeeper, we just missed that last little bit. We knew how tough it was going to be against Newcastle, with the way they set up and how good they are on the counter-attack," he added.