That’s all for tonight – bye!
It was the Evan Ferguson Show, but Billy Gilmour ran it. Here’s his verdict.
I’m really happy personally. But last week we weren’t good enough and we had to make it right. It’s a very competitive changing room – we all want to play and we’ve got a lot of competitions to come. When you’re in, you have to give it your all.
[Roberto De Zerbi] is really tough; everything has to be perfect, which is good for us. We want to learn and he’s a great manager. We work so much on things like trying to turn forward and look at the full pitch. For me it’s been amazing to work with him.
I’m enjoying my football. To play every game this season is great – I’m gaining confidence and minutes in my legs. To get on the ball as much as I did today was really enjoyable.
🗣️ "He's really tough on you, everything has to be perfect"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 2, 2023
Billy Gilmour give an insight on what it's like playing under Roberto De Zerbi pic.twitter.com/uclcVqWUz2
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Evan Ferguson chats to Sky Sports
[In the tunnel, Lewis Dunk said the third goal might be an own-goal] He’d be the only man to take it off me! [It looks on target, doesn’t it?] Not on that replay (laughs) but we need to change the angle.
[How does it feel?] Yeah it’s good. Bad result last week, we knew we needed to bounce back. We came out flying and got the good luck in the end.
[On the first goal] I thought I might be offside, because the defender was behind me, but you just have to try to finish it. I did that and luckily I wasn’t offside. In training it can be hard to work on game-realistic positioning, so sometimes you have to sniff it out. You have to be ready at all times.
[The second goal] In the first half I could’ve turned and drove at them a bit more, and we talked about it at half-time. I decided the first chance I got I’d turn and have a shot.
[On scoring a Premier League hat-trick aged 18] I dunno! It’s really fresh so it’s hard to take in. It’s an unbelievable feeling; as a kid, as a strker, you want to grow up and scores goals in the Premier League. When you get a hat-trick, it’s a good day. My family were here as well.
[Your dad played didn’t he?] He tried, I think. Big centre-back. [What was he like when you were playing at youth level? Was he demanding?] Nah. He’d stand on the sideline with his hood up, saying nothing. That helped me because if I did need anything I could ask him and he’d know what he was talking about.
Jonathan Wilson was lucky enough to be at the Amex Stadium tonight. Here’s his report.
Last season #Newcastle's third league defeat came in early March. This season, largely thanks to Darwin Nunez and Evan Ferguson, it has come six months earlier
— Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) September 2, 2023
This, as ever, is a great spot from Tim. They’re at least a season ahead of schedule, which can create problems with things like rotation and man-management. That said, ultimately their defeats have all been to very good teams. After the international break they have a good run of fixtures in the Premier League, albeit with midweek games against Milan, Man City, PSG and Dortmund. If the relevant people hold their nerve, they should be fine.
That was a really bad day for Newcastle, easily their worst performance of the season so far. They were strangely meek, the first five minutes aside, and the international break is probably coming at a decent time for them.
This wasn’t all about Evan Ferguson. The first five minutes aside, Brighton were just brilliant, an extended shot of dopamine for neutrals never mind their own fans. Billy Gilmour – who is receiving an animated post-match appraisal from Roberto De Zerbi as I type - and Pascal Gross ran the game even though they were ostensibly outnumbered in midfield, Newcastle couldn’t get near Joao Pedro, and I could go on but I’m just repeating myself now. In so many ways, modern football is soul-destroying nonsense. Then there’s Brighton & Hove Albion.
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Full time: Evan Ferguson 3-1 Newcastle
Peep peep! That’s yet another charming bit of Big Seven-bashing from Brighton. They totally outclassed Newcastle, with the 18-year-old striker Evan Ferguson scoring a hat-trick. He walks onto the field at the final whistle with a slightly shy smile and no big celebration; his temperament will be as important as his talent, because he’s going places.
90+8 min Lallana is booked for something or other; then Sean Longstaff gives him a rare old mouthful. That was a bit strange.
90+7 min Trippier saves a fourth goal with a fine piece of defending. Lamptey broke into the area from the right and crossed low towards the far post. Mitoma was about to turn the ball into an open goal when Trippier got a sight touch to divert it away from him.
90+6 min “What was I saying?” wrote Jeremy Boyce, a split-second at most before Wilson’s goal. “A 3-0 humiliation, it’ll be a long flight oop’t’north tonight, and a good clubbing from Eddie on Monday morning.”
90+5 min Schar is down, which is a worry for Newcastle, though it might just be cramp. They’ve used all their subs. Even so, after Sven Botman’s injury they really can’t afford to lose him as well.
90+5 min Dahoud asks for a yellow card after a foul by Lascelles, and gets one himself.
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GOAL! Brighton 3-1 Newcastle (Wilson 90+2)
Callum Wilson gets a consolation goal. Longstaff played a speculative first-time ball round the corner, Jordan Henderson-style, which reached Wilson on the right side of the area. He ran through Van Hecke, benefitting from a double ricochet, and finished coolly past Verbruggen.
90+1 min Seven minutes of added time.
90 min Adingra almost makes it 4-0 after lovely play from Estupinan and Mitoma on the left. Eventually Mitoma’s low pass into the area was stabbed up in the air by Adingra, whose volley was bravely blocked by Schar (I think).
89 min With football now clinically insane, there will be talk tonight about Eddie Howe being under pressure. He still has so much credit in the bank that it would be absurd to even consider sacking him. The fact it will be spoken about is still pretty irritating.
88 min: Brighton substitution The quietly excellent Pascal Gross is replaced by Simon Adingra.
87 min Trippier’s free-kick is headed towards goal by Burn beyond the far post. Verbruggen makes a comfortable save.
86 min Milner is booked for a gratuitous foul on Gordon, one last gesture to the Liverpool fans.
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85 min Apart from a lack of blistering pace, it’s hard to see a flaw in Evan Ferguson’s game. He’s tactically aware and can already play as a 9 or a 10; he moves off the ball and rolls defenders like an old don; he’s tall, strong and scores all types of goals; his passing is fine and will get better; his temperament is apparently rock solid. In football terms, he’s like a bouncer who can also outwit you. He’s 18.
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83 min Lamptey is fouled by the lunging Schar, who’s on a yellow card, but he stays on his feet and charges into the area. The attack peters out and it’s Lamptey who is booked for an overzealous challenge.
81 min: Double substitution for Brighton James Milner and Adam Lallana replace Solly March and Evan Ferguson, who gets a standing ovation from an adoring home crowd. This time last year he was playing for Brighton Under-21s at Colchester in the Football League Trophy; now he’s scoring hat-tricks against Champions League teams.
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78 min A flurry of challenges on the halfway line ends with Trippier, Fergusn and Estupinan on the floor. It’s like Reservoir Bloody Dogs out there. They all seem fine – Ferguson is limping a bit but I think it’s an impact injury rather than anything more serious.
77 min: Double substitution Tariq Lamptey and Mahmoud Dahoud replace Billy Gilmour and Joao Pedro. They were both outstanding; in fact that might be Gilmour’s best performance for Brighotn.
76 min Dan Burn, who has been schooled by Ferguson, makes a bad night even worse by getting booked for pulling back Solly March.
74 min: Double substitution for Newcastle Harvey Barnes and Jamaal Lascelles come on for Alexander Isak and Matt Targett.
74 min The third goal has been awarded to Evan Ferguson, which means he has officially scored his first Premier League hat-trick. It’s delightful moment for a brilliant and thoroughly likeable kid.
73 min The world is a complete mess, and then there’s Brighton & Hove Albion.
The shot took a huge deflection off Schar and wrongfooted Pope. Was it on target and therefore Ferguson’s goal? I reckon it was, though I’d like to see a few more replays before putting the farm on it. Ferguson received possession on the edge of the area, took a touch and swept a left-footed shot that hit Schar and flew into the net. Roberto De Zerbi, who has managed Ferguson so brilliantly in the past 12 months, punches the air with delight.
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GOAL! Brighton 3-0 Newcastle (Ferguson 70)
And now, Dubious Goals Committee or whatever they’re called these days notwithstanding, he has his first career hat-trick!
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70 min Trust me, there’s no catch with Evan Ferguson. He has it all.
68 min Targett is booked for something or other.
67 min Newcastle have an immediate chance to get one back, but Gordon drives Anderson’s cutback wide from 15 yards. He’s had a bad night.
It’s another lovely goal to add to Ferguson’s impressively varied portfolio. He dropped deep to receive a straight pass from Gilmour, 35 yards from goal. Burn, sick of being turned with ease by a teenager, decided to stay at home this time. That allowed Ferguson to turn into space, open his body and curl a precise shot that beat the diving Pope and bounced into the side netting. He didn’t hammer it, by any means, but it could barely have been more accurate.
What a GOAL from Evan Ferguson! 😍💫 pic.twitter.com/I6XjCaHPou
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 2, 2023
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GOAL! Brighton 2-0 Newcastle (Ferguson 65)
Evan Ferguson is 18 years old.
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63 min “Sounds like it was a fun first half,” says Rob Knap. “De Zerbi was compared to Zdenek Zeman when managing in Italy. They both managed Foggia, but it was more about the approach. And most notably, their teams simply scored a lot and conceded a lot. Losing 5-1 at home to Everton in 2023 is not quite losing 8-2 to Milan in the context of 1990s Serie A, but it’s Zeman-like in its madness. I doubt De Zerbi is going to try and close this game down now they have a lead... More generally, it’s going to be fascinating watching De Zerbi from here.”
I was fascinated by that Foggia side, especially Igor Shalimov and the front three. For those not familiar, look at their record (goals for and against) in the first season after they were promoted to Serie A. This was the last year before the backpass law, so goals were still a rare event.
61 min Trippier’s inswinging corner is punched away effectively, if not entirely convincingly, by Verbruggen. That might be a way in for Newcastle, who have some abundant units on the field.
60 min Mitoma forces another error from Trippier, though Estupinan can’t take advantage. Brighton are playing so well tonight.
58 min: Triple substitution for Newcastle Sean Longstaff, Elliot Anderson and Callum Wilson come on for Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Miguel Almiron. All had games to forget, though Tonali was okay in patches.
57 min Ferguson beats Burn with a delightful bodyswerve. Targett comes across to make an important interception and is taken out by Ferguson. I know I’m mildly obsessed, but Evan Ferguson is phenomenally accomplished for an 18-year-old.
56 min March’s corner is just too high for Ferguson at the back post. It brushes his head and goes behind for a goalkick.
55 min March wins another corner. Newcastle aren’t at the races.
54 min Trippier tries to pass the ball out of his own area… with hilarious consequences. He gives it straight to Joao Pedro, but makes partial amends by tracking him across the area. Joao Pedro tries a backheel to Ferguson but doesn't connect properly.
54 min “Brighton need to up their game and get one of theirs sent off,” says Ian Copestake. “Beating Newcastle with 11 players is so the week before last.
‘One of theirs.’ Ray Winstone over here.
52 min Joao Pedro has an acrobatic volley blocked, though I think there was an offside in the build-up.
52 min Ferguson spins Burn like an old don, not for the first time tonight, but then he overhits his through pass to Joao Pedro.
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51 min Brighton work the ball classily down the right, only for March to overhit his pass into the area for Ferguson.
48 min Better passing and movement from Newcastle, who keep the ball for a long time until Tonali’s cross is cleared.
47 min “For all the excitement and hipster love Brighton have generated over the last season or so, it isn’t all that long ago that the pre-injury Tariq Lamptey was their shiniest talent - of a Reece James level,” says Geoff Wignall. “If he can recover that form they’ll be a very decent side indeed: top six at a minimum.”
He was so exciting in his first few months at Brighton; he’s only 22 so hopefully he can get back. They’ll need every player they’ve got with this season’s schedule.
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46 min Peep peep. Newcastle begin the second half; no changes on either side.
Half-time quiz
Half time: Brighton 1-0 Newcastle
Brighton – lovely, life-affirming Brighton - are doing it again. They have outplayed Newcastle and lead through a sniffer’s goal from the superb Evan Ferguson. His partner in elusivity, Joao Pedro, was also terrific, as were the little-and-little midfield duo of Billy Gilmour and Pascal Gross.
Newcastle made a flying start, pressing Brighton furiously and creating a couple of opportunities for Alexander Isak, but as the half progressed they were increasingly compliant. At least they know from bitter experience that you can be 1-0 down at half-time, having been outplayed, and still end up with three points.
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45 min Only two minutes of added time, mainly because Brighton have spent most of the first 45 passing the ball to one another.
45 min Gross seems to be fouled just outside the D by Joelinton, but Stuart Attwell says play on. Actually there weren’t too many appeals from the Brighton players, so maybe I’m the problem here.
44 min Gross’s outswinger is headed well wide by Dunk, under pressure near the penalty spot. He seems annoyed with himself, though it was about a tenth of a chance at best.
44 min The resulting free-kick is headed behind for a corner by Gordon. It took a while for Brighton to exert control, but in the last 20 minutes or so they’ve been much the better side.
43 min Schar is booked for a foul on Joao Pedro, who has had a fine first half. He’ll be off for £450m in 2027.
39 min A better spell for Newcastle, with Isak having a shot blocked on the edge of the area.
38 min Talking of great young footballers, here’s the most terrifyingly precocious of them all. If he continues his development at this pace he’ll be entering the Champions League and World Cup on his own by 2030.
35 min Newcastle are struggling to deal with Joao Pedro and Ferguson, who at times are both playing as false nines. Ferguson drops deep to start another move than ends with Estupinan misplacing a cutback.
33 min Tonali hammers a low cross that just evades Gordon at the near post. This is a high-quality game.
31 min “Can’t help thinking that Newcastle will not do as well this season as is being predicted,” says Richard Hirst. “Their defence is their weak point; much as I love Dan Burn and Matt Targett as former Fulham players, I really can’t see them cutting it in the Champions League, and coping with the CL will be a big ask for the team as a whole. The fact that Eddie Howe is already becoming a caricature of Eddie Howe is indicative.”
The number of games would worry me the most. That and a potential long-term injury to Sven Botman. Eddie Howe has done such a good job, though, and whatever happens he deserves to be in charge at the start of next season. (He won’t be if it goes wrong.)
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29 min: Chance for Brighton! I can’t keep up with all this excitement. Ferguson beats Burn majestically in the centre circle, gallops forward and finds Mitoma to his right. He plays in Joao Pedro, who pokes a first-time shot over the bar from 15 yards. That was a really good chance, which started with some more unnervingly mature play from Evan Ferguson. He has such range to his game.
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28 min At the other end, Joelinton makes space in a phonebox but then shoots wide from 16 yards. I can’t decide whether Pope should have held Gilmour’s shot that led to the goal. It was straight at him, but it was viciously struck and probably moved in the air. I guess a keeper of his class probably should have held it, or at least pushed it out of danger.
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Pope ran out of his area on the right and miskicked a clearance straight to Estupinan. He beat a man and played in Mitoma, whose shot was very well saved with his left foot by the recovering Pope.
Gilmour ran onto the loose ball, 30 yards out, and cut across a sizzling rising drive. Pope couldn’t hold it and Evan Ferguson gobbled up the rebound from close range.
Evan Ferguson smashes it home and puts Brighton ahead! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/0hHGWEMQd0
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 2, 2023
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GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Newcastle (Ferguson 27)
Evan Ferguson gives Brighton the lead after a double mistake from Nick Pope.
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26 min Schar drives a long ball over the top to Joelinton, who makes a lovely run but can’t quite control the ball on the chest.
25 min Newcastle will be happy that, although Brighton have dominated possession, Nick Pope hasn’t had much to do.
22 min Gordon is booked for a late tackle on Van Hecke.
19 min Gross’s very deep corner is nodded back across goal by Dunk and headed partially clear at the far post. Newcastle eventually complete this particular defensive job.
19 min Mitoma’s shot hits Tripper and spins behind for a corner. He was found by Joao Pedro, who is taking up some excellent positions between the lines.
19 min Good game, this.
18 min Newcastle break through Gordon, who releases Isak in the inside-right channel. He beats Dunk coolly in the area but then cuts the ball back behind Gordon, the only player who was up in support.
17 min Joao Pedro surges menacingly into the area, then falls over in slow motion after bouncing off a defender and losing his balance. It wasn’t a dive, but nor was it a foul.
16 min Brighton break from that Newcastle corner. Mitoma cuts inside on the edge of the area but his shot is well blocked by Trippier, who sprinted back after taking the corner himself.
16 min: Good save from Verbruggen! Almiron’s short-range cross hits Dunk and ricochets towards the near post, where Verbruggen shows good reactions and agility to push the ball behind.
16 min Brighton continue to dominate possession. March has been lively but so far Mitoma hasn’t had any joy against the grizzled Kieran Trippier. That’ll be a fascinating duel.
14 min Ferguson makes a brilliant run, demanding a through pass from Gilmour, but Burn ushers him wide and his shot is straight at Pope. For an 18-year-old, Ferguson is so intelligent in his movement and decision-making.
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13 min Possession so far: Brighton 70-30 Newcastle. That’s in per cent you know.
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11 min A very deep corner from Gross is headed down by Dunk to Estupinan, who shoots well wide from the edge of the area.
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10 min After a bit of a false start, Brighton have settled into their passing groove. Their 4-2-4 formation looks in good order, with the wingers playing very high up. March’s cross deflects off Targett and is pushed awkwardly round the near post by Pope. Safety first.
9 min “An interesting match-up today,” says Jeremy Boyce. “Quick-thinking, over-achieving and ever-resourceful B&HA, versus sleeping giants seemingly coming to some kind of wakefulness thanks to lots of dosh and a manager who is certainly going for the manager weird-speak award 2023-24.
“Arteta’s pronouncements yesterday were strange enough, but it’s been a while now since Eddie adopted the royal ‘we’. Speaking of yourself or another in plural is a weirdness better reserved for the family themselves, some of whom are weird enough. All the same, I’m sure the lads will heed his words and not get straight out on the lash when they jet back up to Nooocassle after a 3-0 humiliation at the Amex.”
Well that’s just, like, your opinion, man.
7 min Now March wins a corner for Brighton, who are having a good spell of their own. Gross’s quickly taken outswinger is headed across goal and wide by Joao Pedro.
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5 min This game has started promisingly. March plays a one-two with Ferguson, cuts inside and fizzes a rising drive just over from 20 yards. Pope probably had it covered but it was a good effort.
4 min “It’s March 2024,” says Gerry Scott. “Chelsea manager Roberto De Zerbi asks fans to be patient with new £200m striker Evan Ferguson and promises he will get off the mark soon. Brighton, now richer than Croesus (not to mention most countries) and having appointed a 17-year-old Bavarian coach, close in on a top-four finish. I’m not sure what the point of this email is other than I continue to find Todd Boehly’s stewardship of Chelsea amusing.”
3 min: Another chance for Isak! Newcastle are pressing superbly. A clearance from Estupinan hits Almiron and ricochets to Tonali on the right of the area. He cuts the ball back sharply to Isak, who shins a first-time shot well wide from 12 yards.
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1 min: Chance for Newcastle! Isak almost scores after 54 seconds. Bruno clipped a first-time ball behind the defence that was missed by the lunging Dunk. Isak ran through on goal and was about to shoot when Van Hecke stretched to make a vital challenge. A goalkick was given, though Isak looked disgusted with that particular decision.
1 min “Why is it ‘the international break’?” wonders Alun Pugh. “Many of us regard club football as an entertaining diversion between the real games. I’m packed for our game in Riga later this month and Yerevan is in the diary. And Toon fans regard Brighton as a long way. Try driving from Istanbul to the Samsun Stadium (stay inland btw, the coast road is pretty but it takes 20 hours).”
Give it a few years and we’ll be talking about ‘the football break’ between transfer windows.
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1 min Peep peep! Brighton kick off from right to left as we watch.
Match report: Brentford 2-2 Bournemouth
“So, you’re doing double duty today, Rob?” says Joe Pearson. “Please provide another match as entertaining as that astonishing draw this morning. And when you said playing ‘Lamb’, I thought for sure you meant Genesis (or would that more likely be a Brewin thing).”
Brewin listens to Genesis? He kept that quiet during our early-morning romps.
Match report: Man City 5-1 Fulham
Here come the players. It’s time for Brighton v Newcastle, and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise.
Match report: Burnley 2-5 Spurs
He’s just copying Pep, mate.
Match report: Chelsea 0-1 Nottm Forest
Including a cracking first line from Jacob Steinberg.
“Brighton have a player who’ll be sold for £200m?!” says Peter Oh, referring to my mention of Carlos Baleba. “That’s un-Baleba-ble! Now, if that’s not an excuse to play EMF...”
I can’t decide if that’s one of your very best puns or one of the worst.
(Okay, okay, here’s the actual song.)
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“G’day Rob,” writes our resident Australian Geordie, Chris Paraskevas. “Finished watching the NUFC ‘documentary’. Was mostly a cringe. Quite enjoyed Eddie Howe dropping f-bombs but fundamentally I got more entertainment out of Kuno Becker as Santiago Munez.
“The Amazon doco simply doesn’t hold a candle to masterpieces like Sunderland ‘Til I Die, or even the ‘B0110ck$ to Bloody Brighton’ scene in (the underratedly camp) The Damned United.”
Today’s Premier League results so far
Brentford 2-2 Bournemouth
Burnley 2-5 Spurs (Son hat-trick)
Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Man City 5-1 Fulham (Yep hat-trick)
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It’s a 4/5 for you two, now get out of my sight
If this isn’t an excuse to play Lamb, then I don’t know what is
If this isn’t an excuse to play DJ Shadow, then I don’t know what is
There’s loads going on in the 3pm games, including a romp for Spurs at Turf Moor. Barry Glendenning is waiting to furnish you – and only you, because you are special to us – with updates.
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Team news
Roberto De Zerbi makes three changes from the defeat to West Ham. Joel Veltman, Jan Paul van Hecke and Joao Pedro replace James Milner, Adam Webster, who was given an indecent chasing by Michail Antonio, and the injured Danny Welbeck.
Sven Botman’s ankle injury means one change for Newcastle. Matt Targett comes in and Dan Burn moves across to centre-back.
Brighton (4-2-4) Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Gross, Gilmour; March, Ferguson, Joao Pedro, Mitoma.
Substitutes: Steele, Lamptey, Igor Julio, Webster, Milner, Dahoud, Lallana, Buonanotte, Adingra.
Newcastle (4-3-3) Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Targett; Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
Substitutes: Dubravka, Lascelles, Hall, Livramento, Barnes, Murphy, Anderson, Longstaff, Wilson.
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Preamble
It’s been a dog of a week for Newcastle. They were mugged by Liverpool, irked by the Carabao Cup draw and mercilessly trolled by the Champions League draw. Eddie Howe wouldn’t have minded a nice easy away game to restore some of the good vibes of 5.15pm last Sunday; instead Newcastle are off to Brighton, whose unique attacking verve would test any team in the world.
The upside is that it would be a very good game to win, especially as Newcastle have a decent run of Premier League fixtures (if not Champions League) after the international break.
Brighton also suffered an unwelcome reality check last weekend, when David Moyes’ West Ham did a classic number on them at the Amex Stadium. Their life is about change even more than Newcastle’s, with their first European campaign beginning against AEK Athens on 21 September, so they’d like to put as much credit as possible in the Premier League bank before then.
In the last few days Brighton have signed Ansu Fati on loan from Barcelona, though he isn’t involved today. Nor is the Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba, who joined from Lille and will move to a Big Seven club for £200m in the summer of 2025.
Kick off 5.30pm.
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