Newcastle United player ratings v Brighton: 'Infuriating' 4/10 & 'disappointing' 5/10 in 2-1 defeat

Danny Welbeck scored twice as Newcastle United lost 2-1 at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Newcastle returned to action following the international break, with Eddie Howe keeping faith with the starting XI that earned back-to-back wins over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

The Magpies started brightly as Bruno Guimaraes directed a promising chance wide, however Brighton soon grew into the game and deservedly took the lead in the 41st minute through Danny Welbeck.

Georginio Rutter played a ball in between Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw and former Sunderland loanee Welbeck was able to lift the ball over the on-rushing Nick Pope.

Howe made a double change at half-time, bringing on Lewis Miley and Jacob Murphy in place of Joelinton and Anthony Elanga.

And it was Miley who set up the Magpies’ equaliser in the 76th minute when Nick Woltemade flicked home the midfielder’s cross. But the visitors were only level for eight minutes after Welbeck again put the Seagulls in front.

It continued Newcastle’s poor record at the Amex Stadium, having drawn five and lost four of their nine Premier League encounters.

Here are our Newcastle United player ratings from the defeat on the South Coast.