Sitting amongst the Brighton fans as Newcastle United grab late equaliser – An interesting day | OneFootball

Brighton away and probably the last game of the season we will be able to get tickets for, albeit today we are in amongst the home fans.

A few beers before a walk to the racecourse where buses ferry the Brighton fans to the ridiculously sited Amex Stadium.

Only to find that today there is a car boot sale. No transport has been put on.

Our timings are now out the window and I scramble an Uber to get us across the South Downs, in what must be the most surreal journey to a Premier League Stadium.

No drama getting into the ground this time, sitting amongst the Brighton fans, as my lad has learnt from last season and is not wearing his black and white stripes.

We take our seats near the Newcastle United fans who are in the official away section and perfectly in line with the six yard box (absolutely prime position for viewing the two controversial incidents that were about to arrive),

Around us I notice plenty of what I assume to be tourist supporters with their bags of merch, as well as plenty twenty something young men who have been generated by AI judging by their conversations about football.

The first half was a game of sparring with neither side getting a grip.

Up steps Minteh to score a good well worked goal.

The AI generated boys stand and cheer, we slump in our seats.

Second half we appear to be upping the game with the introduction of Gordon and what feels like instantly he wins a penalty right in front of us, clear as day a foul. But no, the purgatory that is VAR steps in and the foul is ruled just outside the box, though not even a yellow card for Lamptey.

Second incident, Willock is definitely inside the box and takes a tumble. From my perfect position I think it’s a good tackle and expect the ref to wave play on but no, a penalty given. More VAR shenanigans before Willock is booked for diving and no penalty again.

And then on to our equaliser.

I have no idea whether it was a penalty or not. From our vantage point it was a sea of bodies and who could tell what had happened. I haven’t seen any replays but I have heard that it was given for handball.

Isak lines up the penalty and how I held it together not to celebrate is a mystery. Unlike my lad who celebrates along with an old guy in the row behind us.

In added time, if Wilson had burst the net with that shot instead of a good save by the keeper, we would have been jumping up and down in ecstasy…but it was not to be.

We were not at our best today but I’ll take the point.

Brighton 1 Newcastle 1 – Sunday 4 May 2025 2pm

Newcastle United:

Isak 89 pen

Brighton

Minteh 28

Possession was Newcastle 54% Brighton 46%

Total shots were Newcastle 13 Ipswich 5

Shots on target were Newcastle 5 Brighton 2

Corners were Newcastle 4 Brighton 1

Touches in the box Newcastle 32 Brighton 17

Newcastle team v Brighton:

Pope, Trippier (Krafth 97), Schar (Botman 97), Burn, Livramento, Willock (Wilson 74), Tonali, Bruno, Barnes, Isak, Murphy (Gordon 56)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Osula, Longstaff, Miley, Neave

(Brighton 1 Newcastle 1 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)