Newcastle 4 – 1 Brighton

Newcastle need just one win to secure a return to the Champions League group stage for the first time in 20 years after claiming a 4-1 victory over a lacklustre Brighton at St James’ Park.

The Magpies are now four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with just two games to play, meaning they will finish in the top four if they beat Leicester on Monday – live on Sky Sports – or Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on May 28.

Eddie Howe’s side were utterly dominant in the first half and thoroughly deserved their two-goal lead thanks to Deniz Undav’s own goal and Dan Burn’s header.

Undav made up for his error by halving the deficit early in the second half, but late goals from Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes handed Brighton their second heavy defeat in their last three matches and all but ended their hopes of a top-four finish.

How Newcastle strode towards Champions League

Brighton’s stunning 3-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday came on the back of a surprise 5-1 thrashing at home by Everton and, combined with Newcastle taking just one point from their past two matches, it meant the meeting of the two European hopefuls was hard to call before kick-off.

But Newcastle made a mockery of those suggestions throughout a highly-impressive opening 45 minutes during which they continually prevented Brighton from playing out from their own half.

The hosts saw Lewis Dunk clear the ball of his own line and block a Joelinton shot over the bar before they eventually took the lead, Undav glancing Kieran Trippier’s corner into his own goal.

Burn went close from another Trippier corner before finding the net in first-half stoppage time, rising highest to guide a header into the bottom corner for his first Newcastle goal in the Premier League against his former club.

Miguel Almiron should have put the game to bed but saw his volley saved by Jason Steele, only for Billy Gilmour to pick out Undav moments later, with Newcastle leaving a gaping hole in their defence which the striker gratefully took advantage of to halve the deficit.

Julio Enciso then went close with a header as the nerves started to build around St James’ Park, but Wilson hit Brighton with a sucker punch as the second half headed towards added time, beating the offside trap to burst clear and score past Steele at his near post.

The striker then set up Guimaraes for another just moments later and could have made it five as Brighton’s defence fell apart, only for Steele to come out on top.

While Newcastle are now within touching distance of the Champions League, Brighton will turn their attention to qualifying for the Europa League, with the Seagulls sixth, one point above Tottenham and holding a game in hand.

What’s next?

Newcastle have two more Premier League games to play this season and are back on Sky Sports on Monday Night Football when they host Leicester next week; kick-off 8pm. Their final game of the season will be at Chelsea on Sunday May 28; kick-off 4.30pm.

Brighton play three more games before the end of the campaign. They host relegated Southampton on Sunday – kick-off 2pm – before hosting Manchester City on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 8pm.

Brighton’s final game of the season sees them travel to Aston Villa on Sunday May 28; kick-off 4.30pm.