NEWCASTLE United win on a Thursday night. Don’t expect a repeat any time soon, for it looks increasingly likely that it’ll be Tuesday and Wednesday nights that the Magpies are playing their midweek football next season.

Eddie Howe’s side are now just two points away from securing a place in next season’s Champions League.  A top four finish will be guaranteed if Liverpool lose at home to Aston Villa on Saturday. Even if they win, Newcastle can complete the job when Leicester City visit next Monday night.

“Tell me ma, me ma. I won't be home for tea. We're going to Italy,” the home fans sang after the brilliant 4-1 win over rivals Brighton.

Brighton’s Italian boss Roberto De Zerbi watched on stunned in the first half as relentless Newcastle blew his side away. That’s when the damage was done.

De Zerbi brought striker Deniz Undav into his team after a run of three goals in his last four outings. He hit the net again, but it was his own, setting Newcastle on the road to this crucial victory. If that was a nightmare for Undav, Newcastle’s second in first half stoppage time was a dream for Dan Burn, his first Premier League goal for the club he loves.

The second half wasn’t the stroll it appeared it would be at the break, Undav scoring at the right end and setting nerves jangling. But Callum Wilson and Bruno struck in the dying minutes to wrap up the victory Newcastle deserved.

Every game is challenging when so much is on the line but this undoubtedly had the look of Newcastle’s toughest remaining test before kick-off, especially on the back of Brighton’s 3-0 win at Arsenal at the weekend.

Howe this week insisted that his side didn’t feel like “the hunted” despite Liverpool’s blistering form, a claim echoed by club captain Jamaal Lascelles in his programme notes.

“Ultimately, the only thing you can affect is your own business,” he said.

And look after their own business is exactly what they did. At times in the first half Newcastle were unplayable.

Newcastle and Brighton were fourth and sixth after their 0-0 draw in mid-August but at that stage the season was only two games old. There seemed no realistic prospect of both teams still residing in the top six come May and the final 10 days of the season.

The recent hammering at the hands of struggling Everton prompted suggestions Brighton might prematurely run out of steam at the back end of what has been such an impressive campaign but they responded in quite stunning fashion to all but end Arsenal’s title hopes at the weekend. Now they were out to put a dent in Newcastle’s top four hopes.

But it became clear very early on that that wasn’t going to happen.

Howe’s side were blistering from the off. Alexander Isak was causing problems down the left and Miguel Almiron was in the mood on the opposite flank. Sven Botman stung the hands of former Middlesbrough and Sunderland keeper Jason Steele. It was the third effort on his goal inside the first 10 minutes.

Brighton, usually so comfortable in possession, were being harried into errors. They looked uncomfortable. A foul throw midway inside their own half infuriated De Zerbi. His mood soon worsened.

The goal that Newcastle had been threatening since kick-off arrived at the midway point of the first half. Newcastle won a corner after forcing Albion into yet another error, and from the set-piece Trippier’s delivery was turned into his own net by Undav.

Brighton needed a breather and at least had the opportunity to very briefly gather their thoughts when there was a slight stoppage for a VAR check after Wilson had gone down in the box. No penalty. But there was no Newcastle let-up. Almiron threatened again and, such was the confidence of the home side, Burn brought the ball down on his chest and had a shot on the swivel saved.

But Burn’s header in first half stoppage time to double Newcastle’s lead was unstoppable.

De Zerbi made four half time changes against Everton recently but resisted any temptation of a repeat on Tyneside, giving the players who started the opportunity to turn the tide.

And his faith was repaid just six minutes into the second period, Undav slotting underneath Pope after being set away by Gilmour.

Just 60 seconds earlier, Steele had made a brilliant save with his legs to prevent Wilson from putting Newcastle 3-0 up.

Brighton’s goal was greeted by a roar of support from Newcastle’s fans but anxiety quickly set in. De Zerbi tried to take advantage of the tension, making three changes, World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister one of those introduced. He was swiftly booked.

But as Brighton committed bodies forward, Newcastle countered. Almiron set Wilson away with a brilliant pass, the striker making no mistake. And Bruno added a fourth in stoppage time.