Sean Longstaff nets Newcastle equaliser against Brighton

Sean Longstaff’s eighth goal of the season ensured Newcastle’s home campaign did not end in defeat as Brighton emerged from the long trip north with a point.

The midfielder cancelled out Joel Veltman’s opener in first-half stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw which dented the Magpies’ hopes of reeling in fifth-placed Tottenham during what remains of the Premier League campaign.

It was no more than the visitors deserved on a day when Eddie Howe’s side struggled for the fluency which had helped them win five of their previous seven league games against opponents boosted by last weekend’s victory over Aston Villa.

The home side started in determined fashion in front of a crowd of 51,997 at St James’ Park, although Emil Krafth had to make an important intervention after Julio Enciso has tricked his way past Tino Livramento with a neat turn and crossed from the left.

Enciso was proving a real handful as the visitors worked their way into the game and with Pascal Gross and Billy Gilmour finding their feet in the middle of the field, Roberto De Zerbi’s men enjoyed a healthy share of possession and forced a series of corners.

It was from one of them that they took an 18th-minute lead when Gross’ delivery was helped on by Danny Welbeck and Veltman stabbed home from close range at the far post.

Lewis Dunk came to Brighton’s rescue as he got to Longstaff’s near-post cross just ahead of Dan Burn, and keeper Bart Verbruggen had to get down well to his right to claim Jacob Murphy’s curling 24th-minute effort as the hosts responded.

Newcastle were struggling to play through a well-organised Seagulls side with Gilmour and Gross working hard in front of the back four to limit time and space and effectively disarm in-form striker Alexander