A 2-0 win at West Ham United on the opening day of the 2020/21 season gave Newcastle fans hope that last season would be one of dramatic change. It took Brighton just four minutes to quash the Toon Army's hope and the Seagulls would run riot at St James' Park.
French forward Neal Maupay scored twice in the opening seven minutes, with Aaron Connelly adding a third in the 83rd minute. The Magpies failed to register a single shot on target against the Gulls.
Much has changed at Newcastle since that game, which was to be a dark omen of things to come. When Brighton arrive on Tyneside this weekend, they will face a United team on a high following a seven-match unbeaten Premier League run, and with Eddie Howe transforiming the club's fortunes.
Back in September 2020, thing were different. Speaking after the game Bruce said: "We never gave ourselves a chance. The penalty was dubious. It looked soft. Then we’ve let them in again with a basic piece of play. We’ve been beaten badly at home. We have to accept we weren’t good enough. That’s what it is."
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The result was a dangerous sign of what was to come. Sure the start of the campaign was far from disastrous, not like this year anyway. Newcastle flirted with mid-table before they were once again lured into a relegation battle at Christmas.
The schooling the Magpies got at the hands of Graham Potter's side was an early warning sign of what was to follow. Newcastle gained a credible point against Tottenham Hotspur in the following fixture.
Newcastle sat in 14th place after their 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on December 12. Bruce's side then went on a nine-game winless run, something that saw them plummet down the Premier League table.
A late purple patch at the end of the campaign spared Bruce's blushes, but he wasn't able to repeat the feat this time round. Fast forward to this year, Eddie Howe was in attendance for Newcastle's draw with Brighton in the reverse leg, he'll be hoping Potter's side don't have the same effect on the Magpies current run of form.
The Magpies have banished their defensive mentality from last year and taken off the shackles. Howe's side pose a real threat to Brighton and a win would all but mentally secure their Premier League place next season.
