AP NEWS
Sean Longstaff’s eighth goal of the season ensured Newcastle’s home campaign in the English Premier League did not end with a defeat as Brighton emerged from the long trip north with a point from a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Longstaff canceled out Joel Veltman’s opener with a close-range finish in first-half stoppage time but the result dented the Magpies’ hopes of reeling in fifth-placed Tottenham in what remains of the season.
It was no more than the visitors deserved on a day when Eddie Howe’s players struggled for the fluency that helped them win five of their previous seven league games.
Newcastle stayed in sixth place and dropped six points behind Tottenham in fifth.
The home side started in determined fashion in front of a crowd of 51,997 at St. James’ Park, although Emil Krafth had to make an important intervention after Julio Enciso tricked his way past Tino Livramento with a neat turn and crossed from the left.
Enciso was proving a real handful as the visitors worked their way into the game, and with Pascal Gross and Billy Gilmour finding their feet in the middle of the field, Roberto De Zerbi’s men enjoyed a healthy share of possession and forced a series of corners.
