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Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 Newcastle United: Evan Ferguson bags hat-trick to inflict third-straight defeat on Magpies
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Published 02/09/2023 at 17:44 GMT+1
Evan Ferguson scored his first senior hat-trick as Brighton & Hove Albion beat Newcastle 3-1 at Amex Stadium in the Premier League. The loss was a third on the bounce for Eddie Howe's Newcastle, who sit 14th in the table with a 5-1 win over Aston Villa in their season opener feeling like a long time ago. Brighton move up to fourth position, sitting on nine points from their opening four games.
Evan Ferguson of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United at American Express Community Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Brighton, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Newcastle United slumped to their third straight defeat in the Premier League as on-fire Irish teenager Evan Ferguson hit a magical hat-trick in a 3-1 victory for a rampant Brighton.
Roberto De Zerbi's side move fourth in the table with nine points from three matches after another high-octane display of passing, passion and clinical finishing before a vociferous home crowd on Saturday.
Ferguson struck the opener on 27 minutes at a packed Amex when Newcastle keeper Nick Pope failed to hold a powerful Billy Gilmour drive and the 18-year-old forward arrived at speed to convert from close range.
The day went from bad to worse for an insipid Newcastle in the second half with Ferguson teasing a swerving shot into the net from distance on 65 minutes before he completed his first senior hat-trick five minutes later via a deflected shot off the unfortunate Fabian Schär.
Substitute Callum Wilson scored a late consolation for the visitors in added time, but it could not detract from the one-sided nature of the contest.
The international break comes at the right time for Eddie Howe's team, who began the season with a 5-1 win over Aston Villa before losing to Manchester City (1-0), 10-man Liverpool (2-1) and a technically assured Brighton.
They return to action when Brentford visit St James' Park on September 17, with Brighton’s next fixture at Manchester United a day earlier.
TALKING POINT – Where has it all gone wrong for Newcastle?
If not in mourning, this must surely prompt a period of taking stock for Eddie Howe on how he can get a tune out of his faltering squad.
Fair enough, defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool can be part of the equation in the Premier League, but shipping three in a shocking display at Brighton is not. No matter how energised the home side were.
It is the first time they have lost three straight matches in the Premier League since April 2022. To put this into context, they did not lose for a third time until their 24th match that saw them finish fourth last season.
Alongside champions Manchester City, Newcastle conceded only 33 goals in boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League last term, but have already shipped seven in four games.
Not quite time to panic, but with a UEFA Champions League group looming that also contains Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, there should be a concern in appearing to be overwhelmed by the running power of De Zerbi's vibrant Brighton side.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Evan Ferguson (Brighton)
A fairly easy decision with Ferguson showing what the appetite, attitude and ability of youth can bring to the table. Looks like he could be a potent threat for Brighton this season with his finishing power and pace an asset that Newcastle could not contain.
Brimming with self-belief, and ably supported by the excellent Billy Gilmour, Brighton's young player of the year last season looks like an old head on young shoulders. Which is great news for his club and Ireland's national side.
PLAYER RATINGS
Brighton: Verbruggen 7, Veltman 7, van Hecke 7, Dunk 7, Estupinan 7, Gross 7, Gilmour 8, March 8, Pedro 7, Mitoma 8, Ferguson 9 Subs: Lamptey 6, Milner 6, Dahoud 6, Lallana 6
Newcastle United: Pope 5, Trippier 6, Schar 5, Burn 5, Targett 5, Tonali 5, Guimaraes 5, Joelinton 5, Almiron 5, Isak 5, Gordon 5 Subs: Lascelles 5, Anderson 5, Longstaff 5, Wilson 6, Barnes 5
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
27' GOAL FOR BRIGHTON! – Pope keeps out a shot from Kaoru Mitoma before repelling a stinging hit from Gilmour, but he can't hold it and Ferguson follows up to finish the rebound. Home side lead 1-0.
65' GOAL FOR BRIGHTON! – And it is another supreme finish from Ferguson from distance. Just passes it into the net from 25 yards or so. Pope can't get there diving to his left. That is magnificent. Billy Gilmour with the pass. No surprise there.
67' REAL CHANCE FOR NEWCASTLE! – Gordon with chance to finish from the Elliot Anderson pass, but he mishits the shot wide of goal inside the box. Sums it up really.
70' A HAT-TRICK FOR FERGUSON! – It truly is Fergie time. What a display from the youngster as he wrongfoots Pope from the edge of his box. Was a deflection off Fabian Schär, but they all count. He'll be claiming that. His first career hat-trick.
90+2' GOAL FOR NEWCASTLE! – Into two minutes of time added on. Sub Callum Wilson gets behind the Brighton defence to fire home from the Sean Longstaff pass. A consolation goal for the visitors on a forgettable day.
KEY STAT
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