Another huge game awaits Newcastle United as they host Brighton in the Premier League today.
The Seagulls against the Magpies.
I have taken a look at some of the past matches between the two clubs.
Games between Newcastle United and Brighton that stand out for various reasons.
From Jonjo Shelvey’s spectacular free kick, to Mohammed Diame’s freak goal, to the Mackem at heart striking a dagger into Geordie hearts, from the Mighty Quinn being a hat-trick hero all the way to the Geordie Magician’s wonder goal.
These are my five stand out games between the Magpies and the Seagulls.
Newcastle United 2-0 Brighton August 27, 2016
Jonjo Shelvey’s free-kick earns first win over Seagulls since 1990
The last time the two sides met was on March 31, 1990, when Newcastle won 3-1.
After a tough start to their second spell in the Championship under manager Rafa Benitez, and having won games against Reading and Bristol City, Benitez’ Magpies came up against their former manager, Chris Hughton, whose Brighton side had made an unbeaten start to the campaign.
Jamaal Lascelles headed the Magpies in front inside 15 minutes from Matt Ritchie’s free kick and their lead nearly doubled as Yoan Gouffran hit the bar with a 25-yard shot. The Toon held the lead going into half-time.
The Seagulls looked to level the score in the 53rd minute, but Anthony Knockaert struck the woodwork, and to make matters worse, they were reduced to 10 men. Sam Baldock, who was already on a yellow card for a foul in the first half, received a second after a late challenge on Matz Sels.
A free kick came Newcastle’s way in the 63rd minute and Jonjo Shelvey doubled Newcastle’s lead; he could have even extended it to three, but David Stockdale managed to make the save. As did Sels, at the other end, denying Beram Kayal a late goal, as Newcastle got their first win against Brighton since 1990.
Brighton 1-2 Newcastle United, February 28 2017
The Mohammed Diame freak goal.
The two sides had already played each other earlier that Championship season, with Newcastle winning 2-0 over a 10-man Brighton after Sam Baldock was sent off with a second yellow.
The Magpies conceded after a controversial penalty decision as Glen Murray buried it from the spot inside 14 minutes. They went into half-time a goal behind after a glorious chance to level as Christian Atsu missed from eight yards out.
The clock was ticking down as the game reached the 81st minute and Newcastle had a corner.David Stockdale punched the ball out to Atsu’s feet, who mishit it, and the ball spun off Diame, looped into the air, and into the top-right corner, eclipsing Stockdale and leaving everyone in disbelief.
To add even further wounds, Atsu found space on the left and crossed in a ball for Ayoze Perez, who finished from close range for an 89th-minute winner, stunning Brighton.
Newcastle 1-2 Brighton, March 2, 2025
The Mackem at heart breaks Geordie hearts.
It was in 2025 that both sides got drawn together in the FA Cup fifth round.
Before he burnt any bridges on Tyneside, Alexander Isak still provided a goal threat.
The Magpies were awarded a penalty inside 22 minutes, which Isak scored, putting his side in front.
But their lead didn’t last long, as Yankuba Minteh scored against the club that sold him the previous summer, levelling the score at 1-1 at half-time.
A cagey affair in the second, with both teams still locked in at 1-1 and extra time looming, Anthony Gordon was shown a red card in the 83rd minute after pushing Jean Paul Van Hecke in the head.
For a moment, Brighton had an advantage, until both teams evened up at 10 when Tariq Lamptey received a second yellow after a late challenge on Jacob Murphy.
The Magpies had thought for a second they had won it within the dying minutes of regular time but VAR ruled out Fabian Schar’s cushioned volley for offside.
Extra time beckoned, and with it, deadlocked still for most of the 120 minutes, and penalties loomed, ex-Sunderland man, Danny Welbeck, emerged as a hero/villain with a chipped ball over Martin Dubravka, sending the away fans wild.
Newcastle 3-0 Brighton, October 21, 1989
The “Hippofatamous” hat-trick victory
After a Seagulls victory in the 1986 FA Cup third round, knocking out Newcastle, the two sides met again three years later in the Old Second Division, which saw an inspired performance from Mick Quinn.
Quinn opened the scoring inside 25 minutes with a well-placed header after Kevin Dillon “laid it on a plate for him”, and the lead doubled after half-time as Quinn scored on the rebound after Gary Brazil’s header was saved. Brighton nearly grabbed one back but Nicky Bassett’s shot deflected off the crossbar.
With Brighton unable to capitalise, they would suffer the consequences as Quinn completed his hat-trick in the 86th minute after a pass from Brazil. He struck through on goal, killing the game off.
Newcastle finished third that season on 80 points, missing out on second by five points; meanwhile, Brighton finished 18th with 54 points.
Newcastle 3-1 Brighton, May 12, 1984
Peter Beardsley’s wonder goal.
Ahead of this match, Kevin Keegan announced his retirement from playing professional football a few days prior. It proved to be a momentous occasion, having already clinched promotion from the Old Second Division, it was Keegan’s last match as a player and featured a wonder goal from Peter Beardsley.
After testing Joe Corrigan within the opening minutes of the half, it was Keegan who opened the scoring inside 22 minutes with a right-footed shot to take his tally up to 28 goals that season.
An error by the Newcastle defence though, saw Gerry Ryan equalise and even the score going into half-time. But the Magpies got going again in the second half, a cross into the box from Keegan was met by Chris Waddle, who headed home for 2-1.
A slip-up again though from the Magpies’ defence allowed for a Brighton break as Terry Connor was through on goal, but his shot blasted over the bar. Connor had another opportunity off a corner but struck the woodwork.
Regretful misses for Brighton, as the ball was back with Newcastle and Keegan laid it off, with Peter Beardsley winning the challenge on the edge of the penalty area, and dragged the ball back, producing an audacious chip floating over Corrigan and landing in the back of the net. A wonder goal is the best way to describe it.