Magpies striker Daryl Murphy has scored in each of his last four Championship appearances against Brighton (four goals) ... so perhaps he should be given a chance.
Murphy is the highest scoring Championship opposition player at the Amex (since 2011/12), netting four goals in five previous appearances.
The Magpies are yet to win a Championship game in which they’ve conceded the first goal this season (D1 L6), while Brighton have won 18 out of 18 games in which they’ve scored first.
Manager quotes
Chris Hughton (Brighton)
On Sebastien Pocognoli, to The Argus: "He's okay, but we felt that would be the case fairly quickly after the (Reading) game.
"He had a slight problem at Barnsley. In effect it was a bit more of a precaution, taking him off towards the end of the game, but Seb's fine which is good."
On Oliver Norwood missing the last three matches: "It's his first child and we are all delighted for him.
"That was initially (Ipswich and Barnsley) and then he was very much available for the last game (Reading), but we were on the back of a very good performance at Barnsley and my choice was not to change things."
Rafael Benitez (Newcastle)
On link with a move to China: "I was asking where it came from.
"I didn't know. At the beginning of the season a lot of people were talking about Chinese clubs, but it was a surprise to me."
On Brighton: "He (Chris Hughton) is doing a good job and he has a very good team.
"The team has been in the play-offs three times in the last four years so that means they have experience, and they have the players and the squad to be there."
On Dwight Gayle: "He is still improving but not ready for this game."
Opta facts
Brighton’s only defeat in their last seven matches against Newcastle in all competitions (W4 D2) came earlier this campaign in a 2-0 loss at St James’ Park.
The Magpies have never scored a goal at the Amex Stadium in two previous games there, both in the FA Cup.
The Seagulls have lost one of their last 19 home league games on a Tuesday (W14 D4), losing 1-0 to Ipswich in December 2015.
Newcastle, meanwhile, haven’t lost an away game on a Tuesday since going down to Spurs in December 2010, winning four and drawing three since.
There’s still a long way to go in this Championship campaign, and I do not believe that the winner of Tuesday night’s clash between Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United will go on to lift the trophy in May.
At 4.30pm on Saturday, with Newcastle losing and Huddersfield winning, the Terriers supporters were singing "We are coming after you Newcastle United."
20 minutes later and the whole picture changed, but if 20 minutes can change a season, what about ten weeks?
As things stand, only a point separates the pair at the top of the table, with the Seagull’s on 71 points, while a draw yesterday with Bristol City meant Rafa Benitez’s men fell to second-place.
But it’s the north-east outfit who remain the odds-on favourites at 4/6 to win the Championship, while 5/4 says Brighton keep hold of that top-spot until the final day of the season.
Of course, those odds are likely to changes substantially depending on the outcome of Tuesday’s game, where Chris Hughton’s side will kick-off as 6/4 favourites to nick all three points.
But this is just one of three consecutive away fixtures for the Magpies against sides in the top five, with trips to Huddersfield Town and Reading awaiting.
Defeat for the visitors on Tuesday would mean they’d be heading into the aforementioned fixtures extremely low on confidence, and that’s something Brighton can take advantage of, as they’ll meet Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United in their next two matches – both of which would be considered winnable.
They’ve been neck-and-neck all season, but that looks set to change this week, with one of the Championship’s leading two teams looking to force a gap between themselves and their title-chasing rivals.
Can Brighton stretch the gap, or will their heavyweight opponents re-establish themselves?
This season is nowhere near finished, but a lot depends on how Newcastle tackle those three games.
How good is Rafa and his team ... we are about to find out.
The Toon's Greatest 100 Players. . .Ever! - £10.99
Available from Amazon and Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toons-Greatest-100-Players-Ever/dp/132629685X
Or contact: Kevnumad@fsmail.net for a signed copy.
This book is a collection of the 100 Greatest Newcastle United players of all time, as voted for by NewcastleUtd-Mad.co.uk readers and a panel of journalists who contribute to the website.
The players are in an order of five-per-chapter, counting down from 100 to Newcastle United's greatest ever player (as viewed by the author), but the whole point of the book is for You (the reader) to decide who goes where.
The list is not, by any means, definitive. As with all books of this nature, whether it be "Greatest Albums"; "Best Movies Of All Time"; or "Top 100 Pin-Ups Of The Year" . . . no two people have exactly the same opinion.
There will be controversy over who is on the list, and chances are, more controversy over who is not.
Here are the best of the best. I have painted the picture with each player's profile. Where they end up in the league of Nufc's Greatest is up to you.
Because You have the final word.
FIXTURES
TUESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2017
Brighton 19:45 Newcastle
SATURDAY, 4 MARCH 2017
Huddersfield 17:30 Newcastle
TUESDAY, 7 MARCH 2017
Reading 20:00 Newcastle
NEWCASTLE 2 BRISTOL CITY 2 (Smith (og), Clark)
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Colback (Diaméat 58), Ritchie, Pérez( Gouffran 79) Atsu, Mitrovic
Subs not used: Elliot, Hanley, Gamez, Anita, Murphy
NEWCASTLE 2 ASTON VILLA 0 (Gouffran, Lansbury (og))
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Colback, Shelvey; Ritchie, Diame, Gouffran; Gayle (Mitrovic 33).
Subs not used: Elliot, Hanley, Lazaar, Perez, Gamez.
NORWICH 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Perez, Lascelles)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (70' Atsu), Shelvey, Colback (54' Diame), Gouffran, Perez, Mitrovic (76' Gayle)
Subs: Hanley, Hayden, Elliot, Gamez
WOLVES 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Mitrovic)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (82' Murphy), Colback, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame (88' Perez), Mitrovic (45' Atsu)
Subs: Hanley, Hayden, Elliot, Gamez
NEWCASTLE 1 DERBY CO 0 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Hanley, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden (49' Perez), Gouffran (90+3' Lascelles), Diame, Mitrovic (84' Ameobi)
Subs: Lazaar, Elliot, Gamez, Murphy
NEWCASTLE 2 QPR 2 (Shelvey, Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran, Perez (86' Diame), Murphy (66' Ameobi)
Subs: Hanley, Lazaar, Gamez, Mitrovic, Sels
FAC OXFORD UTD 3 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Sels, Gamez, Hanley, Lazaar, Haidara (77' Ritchie), Hayden, Barlaser, El-Mhanni (68' Gouffran), Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Dummett, Lascelles,Shelvey, Elliot, Yedlin
NEWCASTLE 4 ROTHERHAM 0 (Murphy, Ritchie 2 (1 pen), Perez)
Darlow, Yedlin (80' Sterry), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran (64' Ameobi), Perez, Murphy (75' Lazaar)
Subs: Barlaser, Hanley, Haidara, Sels
FAC NEWCASTLE UTD 3 BIRMINGHAM 1 (Ritchie 2 (1 pen), Gouffran)
Sels, Yedlin (75' Hayden), Hanley, Findlay, Lazaar, Shelvey, Tiote (82' Colback), Ritchie, Ben El-Mhanni (70' Perez), Barlaser, Gouffran
Subs: Dummett, Lascelles, Elliot, Murphy
BRENTFORD 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle, Murphy)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden (62' Anita - 72' Hanley), Colback, Gouffran, Perez, Gayle (28' Murphy)
Subs: Lazaar, Sels, Sterry, Ameobi
FA CUP BIRMINGHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Murphy)
Sels, Yedlin, Lascelles, Hanley, Haidara (69' Ritchie), Anita, Colback, Tiote (65' Hayden), Lazaar, Murphy, Mitrovic (10' Gouffran)
Subs: Clark, Dummett, Gayle, Darlow
BLACKBURN 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Anita (87' Murphy), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Colback (77' Perez), Gouffran (85' Atsu), Diame, Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels
NEWCASTLE 3 NOTTM FOREST 1 (Ritchie, Gayle 2)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (83' Lazaar), Colback (67' Diame), Hayden, Atsu, Perez, Gayle (88' Mitrovic)
Subs: Anita, Mbemba, Gouffran, Sels
NEWCASTLE 0 SHEFF WED 1
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Colback (80' Mitrovic), Gouffran (62' Atsu), Diame (69' Perez), Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels
BURTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle, Diame)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie (85' Gouffran), Diame, Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Anita, Perez, Mbemba, Sels, Mitrovic
WIGAN 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Diame, Atsu)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (69' Atsu), Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle (82' Perez)
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 4 BIRMINGHAM 0 (Gayle 3, Gouffran)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden (82' Lazaar), Gouffran (70' Atsu), Diame, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Yedlin, Tiote, Sels
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Perez (45' Anita), Gouffran (77' Diame), Gayle (87' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Tiote, Sels, Atsu
LC HULL CITY 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 (Diame) * Lost on pens
Sels, Anita (108 Yedlin), Lascelles, Clark, Lazaar, Ritchie (80 Atsu), Shelvey, Hayden (105 Murphy), Gouffran, Diame, Gayle
Subs: Dummett, Mbemba, Tiote, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1
Darlow, Yedlin, Mbemba (85' Gayle), Clark, Gamez (55' Dummett), Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Atsu, Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Lascelles, Anita, Diame, Gouffran, Sels
LEEDS UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback (83' Hayden), Shelvey, Gouffran (76' Diame), Perez, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Atsu
NEWCASTLE 2 CARDIFF 1 (Atsu, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (89' Diame), Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran (72' Anita), Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Colback, Hanley, Lazaar, Gayle, Sels
PRESTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Mitrovic 2)
Darlow, Yedlin (90+5' Hanley), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (90+2' Atsu), Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame, Mitrovic (86' Perez)
Subs: Lazaar, Anita, Gamez, Sels
LC NEWCASTLE 6 PRESTON 0 (Mitrovic 2, Diame 2, Ritchie (pen), Perez)
Sels, Yedlin, Mbemba, Hanley, Dummett (58' Anita), Ritchie (75' Perez), Hayden, Colback (32' Shelvey), Atsu, Diame, Mitrovic
Subs: Clark, Gayle, Gouffran, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 3 IPSWICH TOWN 0 (Perez 2, Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback, Shelvey (83' Hayden), Gouffran (75' Atsu), Perez, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Anita, Diame, Mbemba, Sels
BARNSLEY 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie (83' Atsu), Diame (90+2' Colback), Gouffran, Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Perez, Yedlin, Sels, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 3 BRENTFORD 1 (Clark, Gayle 2)
Darlow; Anita, Lascelles (Hanley 60), Clark, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback; Atsu (Yedlin 72), Perez, Gouffran (Lazaar 84); Gayle.
Subs: Sels, Hayden, Diame, Mitrovic.
ROTHERHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Atsu)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (67' Ritchie), Shelvey, Colback, Gouffran, Diame (87' Hanley), Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Hayden, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels
NEWCASTLE 4 NORWICH 3 (Gayle 3, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett (92 Atsu), Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback (71' Hayden), Gouffran, Diame (71' Mitrovic), Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Perez, Mbemba, Sels
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Elphick og)
Sels, Yedlin (75' Tiote), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle (80' Mitrovic)
Subs: Hanley, Lazaar, Perez, Darlow, Atsu
LC NEWCASTLE 2 WOLVES 0 (Ritchie, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Hanley, Clark, Lazaar, Shelvey, Colback, Ritchie (86' Lascelles), Diame (72' Perez), Gouffran (75' Atsu), Murphy
Subs: Dummett, Hayden, Woodman, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 WOLVES 2
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Hayden (Mitrovic 62) Shelvey, Ritchie (Atsu 63), Diame, Perez, Gayle
Subs not used: Clark, Colback, Gouffran, Yedlin, Darlow
QPR 0 NEWCASTLE 6 (Shelvey 2, Perez, Clark, Mitrovic, Hanley)
Sels, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett (65' Hanley), Gouffran (61' Atsu), Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Perez, Mitrovic (74' Yedlin)
Subs: Colback, Gayle, Diame, Darlow
DERBY CO 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gouffran, Yedlin)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback, Gouffran (73' Yedlin), Diame (88' Hayden), Gayle (76' Perez)
Subs: Clark, Lazaar, Darlow, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 2 BRIGHTON 0 (Lascelles, Shelvey)
Sels, Anita (72' Gamez), Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran (88' Yedlin), Diame (81' Colback), Perez
Subs: Clark, Hanley, Darlow, Armstrong
(LC) NEWCASTLE 2 CHELTENHAM 0 (Perez 2)
Darlow, Sterry, Lascelles, Hanley, Gamez, Aarons (24' Gouffran), Shelvey, Colback, Perez, Diame, Mitrovic (38' Gayle)
Subs: Dummett, Hayden, Mbemba, Sels
BRISTOL CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gayle)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie, Hayden (87' Shelvey), Colback, Gouffran, Diame (63' Perez), Gayle (88' Aarons)
Subs: Dummett, Hanley, Darlow, Sterry
NEWCASTLE 4 READING 1 (Hayden, Ritchie (P), Gayle 2)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Clark, Dummett, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie (90' Aarons), Perez (76' Lascelles), Gouffran (84' Colback), Gayle
Subs: Hanley, Janmaat, Darlow, Armstrong
NEWCASTLE 1 HUDDERSFIELD 2 (Gayle)
Sels, Janmaat (83' Armstrong), Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Anita, Hayden, Shelvey, Aarons (45' Ritchie), Diame (75' Perez), Gayle
Subs: Clark, Colback, Darlow, Gamez
FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Sels; Janmaat, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett; Hayden (Shelvey 77), Colback (Aarons 61); Ritchie, Perez (Armstrong 70), Anita; Gayle.
Subs Mbemba, Darlow, Jesus Gamez, Sterry.
NEWCASTLE 3 VITESSE ARNHEM 2 (Leerdam (og), Gayle, Colback)
Sels; Janmaat (Sterry, 74), Hanley (Gamez, 62), Lascelles, Dummett; Hayden (Saivet, 74), Colback (Shelvey, 62); Anita (Mitrovic, 74), Perez (Armstrong, 62), Ritchie (Aarons, 62); Gayle (Gouffran, 74). Subs not: Darlow, Tiote, Thauvin.
SOUTHEND UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Gouffran)
Darlow; Janmaat (Sterry 63), Mbemba (Hanley 63), Lascelles, Dummett; Hayden (Colback 63), Shelvey (Saivet 73); Anita (Thauvin 78), Perez (Mitrovic 73), Aarons (Gouffran 63); Gayle (Armstrong 63).
Sub not used: Sels.
SPORTING LOKEREN 0 NEWCASTLE 4 (Perez 2, Perez, Janmaat, Shelvey)
Sels (Darlow 72); Sterry (Gouffran 63), Mbemba (Saivet 72), Lascelles (Dummett 63), Anita (Gamez 46); Hayden (Shelvey 46), Colback (Tiote 72); Janmaat, Perez (Mitrovic 46), Aarons (Thauvin 63), Gayle (Armstrong 63).
Subs not used: None.
DONCASTER ROVERS 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 2 (Hayden, Perez)
Sels, Janmaat (Sterry, 45), Mbemba (Saivet, 65), Lascelles (Dummett, 45), Colback (Hayden, 45), Anita (Gamez, 45), Ritchie (Gouffran, 45), Aarons (Perez, 45), Shelvey (Wijnaldum, 79), Mitrovic (Gayle, 45), Armstrong (Thauvin, 60).
BOHEMIANS 0 NEWCASTLE 6 (Ritchie, Mitrovic, Gayle, Thauvin, Aarons, Wijnaldum)
Sels, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Sterry, Aarons, Colback, Gouffran, Ritchie, Saivet, Mitrovic.
Subs: Darlow, Gamez, Dummett, Wijnaldum, Shelvey, Hayden, Perez, Gayle, Janmaat, Tiote, Thauvin.