Newcastle Toons
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Newcastle United and Brighton became unexpected rivals last season

By Carson A Merk

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Bruno Saltor of Brighton and Hove Albion (2) reacts as Jonjo Shelvey of Newcastle United celebrates as Ayoze Perez of Newcastle United scores their second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Bruno Saltor of Brighton and Hove Albion (2) reacts as Jonjo Shelvey of Newcastle United celebrates as Ayoze Perez of Newcastle United scores their second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton /
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Ahead of their EPL fixture this weekend, let’s look at the Newcastle United vs. Brighton matches from the Championship last year.

Last season wasn’t a fun one if you were a Newcastle United supporter. The club was navigating a lower league, with lesser known players and they were stuck in a back and forth battle for the top spot. If you checked the Championship table and Newcastle was stuck in second, first position was being occupied by Brighton and Hove Albion.

Newcastle United, a perennial EPL club, and Brighton, a side that’s traveled between the second and third division of English soccer, became sudden rivals. They battled for the title and a move up to the Premier League, something Brighton never previously accomplished.

The two meetings between the clubs were competitive, but both won by Newcastle. In their third match of the campaign, the Magpies defeated Brighton and former Toon manager Chris Hughton 2-0. Skipper Jamaal Lascelles netted the first one with Jonjo Shelvey curling home a free kick for the second. Also in the match, Brighton’s Sam Baldock was sent off early in the second half. Brighton supporters were adamant a red card wasn’t merited.

In the second meeting, with the club’s deeply immersed in a battle for the top spot, there was also controversy. Brighton was awarded a penalty after what seemed like a weak foul in the box during a corner kick. They converted and led at the half. But, Newcastle United would equalize on the strangest, luckiest goal of their season. Christian Atsu mishit a shot, that deflected off of Daryl Murphy, then Mohamed Diame, and looped over the keeper. Diame admitted he did not score on purpose, but was happy with the result. Newcastle wasn’t satisfied with the draw and Christian Atsu found Ayoze Perez in the box, who tapped home the winner. It was a thrilling result for Newcastle during a stretch of tough matches and a heartbreaking result for Brighton.

With two wins against the Sea Gulls, Newcastle United would also get the biggest win between the clubs last season: the Championship title. Brighton stumbled down the stretch and the Magpies overtook them atop the table on the league’s final day. Jack Grealish of Aston Villa scored an equalizer against Brighton to secure Newcastle the crown.

As the clubs get set to match up this weekend for the first time ever in the Premier League, it will be interesting to see if there is any carryover of their Sky Bet Championship rivalry from last season.