UK Edition
Brighton prey on Newcastle United's increasing frustration
There was nothing to separate Brighton and Newcastle United as they ended the year with the sort of goalless draw that makes you wince, but these two promoted sides head into their New Year’s Day fixtures in contrasting moods.
There is no doubt this was a better point for Brighton, away from home, at the opposite end of the country, and, as they face Bournemouth on Monday, they sit three points above Newcastle after suffocating the home team, starving them of the ball and letting the anxiety and impatience of their own supporters do the rest.
Yet there is something more significant that defines the differences between them. Brighton are enjoying themselves. They have not been in this position before, they were not expected to stay up and whatever the final destination, they intend to enjoy the journey.
For Newcastle, who travel to Stoke City on Monday, there is only bitterness and fear. They are a club who never believe they should be in this position, especially with a manager like Rafa Benitez. Yet they have been in too many relegation battles since Mike Ashley became owner just over a decade ago and have suffered the consequences.
There is no enjoyment from another difficult campaign, and the failure to beat a side they took six points off in the Championship last season stings. Ashley is generally blamed for their troubles again, rather than Benitez, who signs the players, picks the team and decides on the tactics, but with takeover hopes fading the longer prospective buyer Amanda Staveley refuses to match Ashley’s asking price, the Magpies begin 2018 under a cloud.
The players feel it most. St James’ Park is a wonderful place to play football when results are good, but when things are going badly, Brighton knew what they had to do.
“This is so exciting for us,” said Brighton’s Irish centre-back Shane Duffy. “We have to enjoy every moment. We have come to Newcastle and wherever they were last season, this is a Premier League ground and a great stadium.
“You want moments like this. Everyone is still buzzing about getting up and being here. It is the first time for a lot of our lads in this league so we want to test ourselves. It is a great challenge.
“There is always pressure on us, but the pressure on Newcastle is more extreme. They [the supporters] get behind them when they are doing well and they can get on their backs a bit when they are not.
“We tried to quieten them and get them on their backs by keeping the ball off them and I think it worked. They got frustrated, the fans, and you could tell they were not happy.”
Benitez is too astute to criticise the supporters that idolise him, but neither could he hide his frustration. He preaches the same message, week after week.
“You have 52,000 fans here expecting you to perform really well,” he said. “It is not easy when you are making mistakes. I am telling the players, they have to carry on and keep going. I am telling the fans, the only way is to stick together and keep supporting the team because it is our team.”