Newcastle’s European hopes dented by Brighton despite Longstaff leveller
Newcastle fans had not enjoyed watching a match on such a warm, sunny day since their team played at Milan’s San Siro in the Champions League last September. Eddie Howe’s team are on a mission to return to Europe next season, preferably in the Europa League, but Brighton’s fancy footwork proved sufficiently bamboozling to place a potentially significant dent in those ambitions. Much now hinges on Wednesday’s trip to Manchester United and Sunday’s visit to Brentford.
Howe has 15 separate tactics boards in his training ground office but even a manager as meticulously assiduous as Newcastle’s could not quite cater for his rather fatigued players’ frequent outmanoeuvring at the feet of the impressive Julio Enciso and friends.
