JONJO SHELVEY’S first goal for Newcastle United sealed the three points against the man who oversaw the club’s last promotion party at St James’ Park.
Chris Hughton, the Brighton boss who guided the Magpies to promotion in 2010, had to watch his former club claim three points to climb up to fourth in the Championship.
Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles had put Rafael Benitez’s side in front after quarter of an hour with a powerful header before Jonjo Shelvey added the crucial second in the 64th minute with a sublime free-kick.
Those goals, coupled with Sam Baldock’s sending off ten minutes after half-time for a second caution, sealed the win and left Brighton nursing a first league defeat since February.
And it was three points sealed in front of former Sunderland striker Daryl Murphy. The Irishman, 33, is on Tyneside to undergo a medical ahead of a move from Ipswich Town.
NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Sels; Anita (Gamez 72), Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett; Shelvey, Hayden; Ritchie, Diame (Colback 81), Gouffran (Yedlin 88); Perez. Subs: Darlow (gk), Hanley, Armstrong.
BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Stockdale; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Sidwell (Norwood 68), Kayal; Knockaert, Baldock, Skalak (LuaLua 68); Murray (Hemed 68). Subs: Maenppa (gk), Stephens, Murphy, Hunt.
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