Newcastle United ended a run of five consecutive defeats with a 3-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at St James' Park, easing the pressure on manager Eddie Howe. The win was watched by club chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan and a delegation from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the club's majority owners.
Will Osula opened the scoring in the 12th minute, heading into an empty net after Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen collided with Jacob Murphy. Dan Burn doubled the lead with a header from a Bruno Guimarães corner in the 24th minute. Brighton pulled one back through Jack Hinshelwood, but Harvey Barnes sealed the win in stoppage time.
Howe admitted to feeling the pressure before the match, saying he had not slept well due to anxiety. He praised the fans for their support and revealed that al-Rumayyan had spoken to the squad about the club's future ambitions. The chairman later posed for a victory photograph with the team in the dressing room.
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler expressed frustration despite his side dominating possession and creating numerous chances. He had a heated exchange with Howe's assistant Jason Tindall at the final whistle. The defeat dented Brighton's hopes of European qualification.
