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Brighton 1-2 Newcastle AS IT HAPPENED: Late Ayoze Perez strike sends Toon top
EXPRESS SPORT brings you live updates from Brighton's top-of-the-table Championship clash with Newcastle.
Brighton 1-2 Newcastle: Goalscorers Mo Diame and Ayoze Perez celebrate
KARL DARLOW
We knew it would be a tough game. There is so much quality throughout the squad and we rallied together at halt-time as we knew we would make chances.
It is a massive win but we have to keep going as we have a tough week. We have got three points but we have a tough games at Huddersfield and then Reading.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP
And it's over at Ewood Park. Blackburn have beaten Derby courtesy of Craig Conway's second-half penalty.
Their relegation rivals Bristol City were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa, who jump to 16th.
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FT: BRIGHTON 1 - 2 NEWCASTLE
I can't believe they've done it, but Newcastle have completed the comeback to beat promotion rivals Brighton! The travelling Toon supporters are now shirtless.. what else would you expect!?
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93: BRIGHTON 1 - 2 NEWCASTLE
It's just not happening for Brighton. Newcastle win a free-kick in the dying seconds. I think that's all folks.
88: BRIGHTON 1 - 2 NEWCASTLE - PEREZ
Scenes, absolute scenes...
Ayoze Perez has surely won it for Newcastle with a top drawer finish from Atsu's cross. Heartbreak for Brighton, elation for the Toon!
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87: BRIGHTON 1 - 1 NEWCASTLE
Solly March replaces Anthony Knockaert. March was described by the commentator as 'arguably Brighton's best player of the first half of last season…'
What an honour...
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84: BRIGHTON 1 - 1 NEWCASTLE
Brighton on the ropes now as Newcastle throw caution to the wind in search of a winner. They just can't keep possession!
You would expect these two to accept a point each given they need to keep Huddersfield at arm's length.
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80: BRIGHTON 1 - 1 NEWCASTLE - DIAME
Weirdest goal you'll see this season... absolutely astonishing how that's actually gone in.
Atsu goes for the spectacular with a volley from distance, obviously he shanks it but it rolls to Diame to flukily clips it over Stockdale from the tightest of angles.
GAME ON!!!
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78: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
I'm not sure Newcastle have put in a worse attacking performance this season. Rafa Benitez tries to remedy that by sending on Daryl Murphy for Jack Colback.
Should things remain the same, Brighton will have a nine-point advantage over third-placed Huddersfield. Surely they've got one foot in the Premier League now, right?
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74: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Knockaert finds Murray in acres of space but his pass is slightly behind the striker, who checks his run before being dispossessed.
Seconds later, Murphy cuts in from the left but his shot is high and wide.
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70: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Glenn Murray goes down under a challenge from Lascelles, but Robert Madley wasn't interested. Rightly so, it would have been soft.
Not seen much from Newcastle as an attacking threat. Brighton are composed, organised and don't look like conceding.
How long before Rafa Benitez throws Aleksandar Mitrovic into the mix?
66: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Did you know: Brighton haven't lost any of the previous 12 matches in which Glenn Murray has scored for them in 2016-17?!
His early breakthrough still divides these two with just under 25 minutes remaining.
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CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
Aston Villa are leading Bristol City 2-0 courtesy of goals from Conor Hourihane and Jonathan Kodjia, who made amends for his missed penalty.
Blackburn are also ahead against Derby thanks to Craig Conway's penalty.
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62: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Shane Duffy earns himself a booking for a pretty nasty looking challenge on Shelvey, who does well to jump out the way.
Newcastle have the free-kick from around 35-yards out, surely Shelvey isn't going to shoot from here?
He does….
It wasn't too bad in fairness but Stockdale manages to gather down to his left.
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57: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE - BLUNDER
Christian Atsu might take the crown as the most frustrating player in England. He's clearly got bags of talent and smashes it for Ghana but he's just not clinical.
Anyway, Brighton heart's are in mouths as Stockdale inexplicably passes straight to Gouffran, who stalls before passing it straight back. Waste.
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53: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Rafa Benitez is looking pretty agitated on the sidelines... and it's not because he's wearing a three-piece suit on a chilly night.
Brighton are containing their promotion rivals, keeping possession and looking the likelier to score the second.
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49: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Gouffran close to getting in on goal but Stockdale beats him to a loose ball before Atsu is dispossessed. It's completely end-to-end here, wouldn't be surprised to see a couple more goals.
45: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
We're back underway. No changes for either side.
Brighton have started quickly with Dunk forcing Dummett into a goal line clearance from a set-piece. God knows where Darlow was!
What the referee saw for the pen... #NUFC #BHAvNUFC pic.twitter.com/3thxnhT4Yy
— Michael Harris (@MickoHarriso) February 28, 2017
HT: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Wondering why I haven't mentioned the other Championship games? Well, not much has happened.
Both Aston Villa v Bristol City, and Blackburn v Derby are goalless at the break, although Jonathan Kodjia's missed penalty was the main highlight of the first half at Villa Park.
HT: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE - SAVE
What a save! Stockdale has made a fantastic stop to deny Atsu from point-blank range.
Saying that, if Atsu had placed his effort either side of the Brighton keeper, we would be level.
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44: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Newcastle win a corner on the stroke of half-time… Shelvey delivers but Duffy clears and sends Knockaert clear down the right flank. He whips a cross field pass to Murphy, who can't control.
42: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Chris Hughton always has the look of a man who's been told terrible news moments earlier…
Anyway, Glenn Murray almost bags a brace but Darlow denies the forward with a strong reflex save.
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38: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Knockaert clearly doesn't want Yedlin to be lonely in the referee's book and blatantly handballs. Silly boy.
Brighton manage to clear the free-kick after several attempts but it's all Newcastle now. Wouldn't be surprised to see an equaliser before the break.
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34: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Yedlin sends a lofty delivery into the box but Stockdale saved his centre-backs an arduous jump by collecting himself.
This is trouble! Yedlin has clipped Baldock when he was virtually the last man. What's Robert Madley going to give… it's yellow!
The Newcastle defender has used one of his nine lives there.
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30: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Jack Colback gets a ticking off from Robert Madley for delaying a throw-in. Brighton seem to have weathered the storm and nearly grabbed a second with Stephens driving from range.
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26: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Brighton are inviting pressure on themselves, and Newcastle have responded well. Yoan Gouffran cuts inside before fizzing a shot that bounced awkwardly for Stockdale.
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22: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Oh Matt Ritchie! The Newcastle attacker drives forward but the ball's nicked off his toe just as he's pulling the trigger.
Could easily have been the equaliser.
18: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Matt Ritchie almost responds instantly with a shot/cross that floats narrowly past Stockdale's post.
Rafa Benitez won't be pleased with his side. The Toon are being comprehensively outplayed right now.
14: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 NEWCASTLE - MURRAY (PEN)
Brighton make the breakthrough! Referee Robert Madley points to the spot after Clark bundled Murray over in the box.
The striker, who's not scored in a while, makes no mistake as he sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Advantage Seagulls.
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10: BRIGHTON 0 - 0 NEWCASTLE
Good evening folks, you'll notice that this has been a dead page for the last 45 minutes.
We're having significant technical difficulties. The kind of difficulties a technophobe like me couldn't possibly comprehend.
Anyway, Brighton have dominated the early stages with Bruno unleashing a incredible volley that Darlow parries to safety.