- Alexander Isak opened the scoring and Yankuba Minteh levelled before the break
- Anthony Gordon and Tariq Lamptey both saw red before Welbeck’s winner
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The closer Newcastle United get to Wembley, the more bad things happen. You really do wonder if there is some sort of curse with them and cup finals.
They won’t be going to the FA Cup final now after Danny Welbeck’s extra-time winner for Brighton — maybe that is a blessing – and Anthony Gordon won’t be going to the one they will play in, this month’s Carabao Cup showdown with Liverpool.
By shoving Jan Paul van Hecke in the head, he lost his own, and with it lost the chance to appear in a final for a second time. He was cup-tied for Carabao Cup defeat by Manchester United in 2023.
The reaction of Eddie Howe as Gordon made his way towards the tunnel after his straight red in the 83rd minute told you everything – there was no reaction.
No consolation, no explanation sought. The head coach would have felt like he’d been punched in the head.
Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey was sent off in stoppage-time for a second yellow card, but Newcastle’s fate seemed sealed from the moment Gordon needlessly lashed out.
Brighton booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Newcastle
Alexander Isak opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Tino Livramento was fouled by Yankuba Minteh
Minteh made amends for his mistake as he netted against his former club before the break
Welbeck chipped a delightful winner with this bonkers tie just six minutes from penalties, not that the result was ever going to dominate the headlines. Gordon made sure of that.
The England winger innocently asked Anthony Taylor, ‘What for?’ when the referee produced his red. Well, it was for violent conduct. Or, more so, violent stupidity. He will have three games and more than a month to reflect on his mistake.
Newcastle led on 22 minutes when Alexander Isak smashed his 22nd goal of the season from the penalty spot. Last time out at St James’ Park he also scored a penalty, but only just.
His invention against Nottingham Forest – half chip, half Panenka – was half-baked and he was lucky to get away with it. This time, it was full-on Shearer – maximum power, minimum doubt.
It was Yankuba Minteh who had conceded the penalty for a clumsy trip on Tino Livramento. It would be a stretch to call the Gambian a former Newcastle player, given this was his first time at St James’ and he passed through without ever training with the club.
But when Minteh then made good on his mistake by levelling the scores just before half-time, he nonetheless refused to celebrate.
He offered his hands in thanks to the Gallowgate End, and maybe that was as much for the space he was gifted in behind the home defence.
Gordon failed to follow Minteh’s run and that allowed him to skip clear before collecting Joao Pedro’s through-ball and finishing, albeit via a nick off the sliding Kieran Trippier.
Newcastle’s fate seemed sealed from the moment Anthony Gordon needlessly lashed out
Tariq Lamptey was also sent off for a second yellow after a late challenge on Jacob Murphy
Danny Welbeck was threaded through by fellow substitute Solly March and the striker dinked it over Martin Dubravka
What played out in the second half, and into extra-time, was like kids on a field called in for tea by their mother – next goal wins!
It arrived when Welbeck was threaded through by fellow substitute Solly March and the striker’s wonderful dink was hardly in keeping with a tie of low quality. But it was high in drama, and for Gordon, it comes at the highest cost.
