Fabian Schär uses his head to sink Brighton and keep Newcastle run going

At this rate the relegation zone will soon have receded to a mere speck in Newcastle’s rearview mirror.

Eddie Howe’s unbeaten league run now extends to eight games, five of which have been won, leaving his team well on course for the sunlit uplands of mid-table. But after a bright start they did not have things all their own way against the recently stumbling Brighton.

Indeed it took an excellent performance at centre-back from a Brighton old boy, Dan Burn, to preserve three vital points and consign the visitors, who often dominated possession, to a fourth straight league defeat.

Brighton’s third choice kit is blue and yellow – the colours of Ukraine – and they elected to wear it here in support of a country under Russian attack.

By the 11th minute their manager, Graham Potter, had reason to regret allowing Burn to start pulling on black and white stripes. The towering defender has reinforced Newcastle’s defence significantly since arriving from the south coast for £13m at the end of the January transfer window, and his former teammates seemed to be missing his stabilising influence as Jacob Murphy showed a clean pair of heels to a rearguard fooled by Chris Wood’s fine through ball. Although Murphy’s eventual chipped shot rebounded off a post, the on-rushing Ryan Fraser re-directed it into the back of the net.

Three minutes later Fraser turned provider as Newcastle doubled their advantage. As Fabian Schär nodded the winger’s free-kick beyond Robert Sánchez’s reach and exultant home fans hugged random stewards, Potter’s head sunk deep into his hands.

Fortunately for Brighton, Tariq Lamptey was not minded to surrender. Indeed, the right wing-back, who is much admired by Newcastle, petrified the hosts virtually every time