Hughton: ‘No intent’ from Hemed after stamp on Yedlin

It didn’t need to be.

Benitez’s approach so far has meant that only two sides have lower possession on average than Newcastle and no club has completed fewer passes per game – but they have still picked up three wins from their last three matches.

“They are a good side, They showed that in their last three games”.

Last season, both teams played in the league Championships.

Hemed drew criticism for an incident late on when he appeared to stomp on DeAndre Yedlin.

Rafa Benitez says Newcastle’s past encounters with Brighton in the Championship will have no bearing on this weekend’s clash. We know each other really well and it will be hard for both. Newcastle will look to bounce back next Sunday when they host Liverpool at St. James’ Park.

Ryan was called into action early at the Amex Stadium, pulling off a superb reflex save in just the second minute to deny the Magpies’ Mikel Merino.

Only a brilliant Elliot block with his right leg prevented March from quickly doubling that lead from a tight angle as Newcastle struggled to regain its foothold in the game.

After a fairly quiet first half Duffy and Lewis Dunk re-grouped and were an nearly impenetrable force for the remainder of the game.

Groß missed the biggest chance of the first-half for Brighton. A poor performance and poor result, but not the end of the world by any means.

Not that they were alone in being wasteful.

A fine move down the Newcastle left involving Christian Atsu and Chancel Mbemba created another opening and Ayoze Perez fired over the crossbar. He had just Brighton keeper Mathew Ryan to beat but screwed his shot across goal and just wide of the far post.

Tomer Hemed’s emphatic second-half finish was enough to give Brighton their second home win of the season.

“The goal for me was a foul, pushing and blocking”.

Benitez introduced Jonjo Shelvey and the midfielder had an immediate impact, winning a corner that he then struck against the near post.

BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Ryan 7; Bruno 7, Duffy 6, Dunk 6, Suttner 6; Stephens 7, Propper 6; Knockaert 7 (Murphy 80, 6), Gross 6, March 8; Hemed 9.

“We had three or four situations around the box where we were risky – (Christian) Atsu mis-controlled the last one, Joselu in the first half, the ‘keeper saving the corner from Shelvey – but we have to do this all the time, not just the last 20 minutes”.