Anthony Knockaert the only spark in Newcastle and Brighton’s gloomy draw

A late contender for the dullest match of 2017 vividly illustrated why Newcastle, without a home win since October, face a relegation battle going into the new year. Brighton are far from safe themselves, but Chris Hughton looked somewhat happier than Rafael Benítez when both teams could have been forgiven for wanting to turn back the clock and return to their former lives dominating last season’s Championship.

“It was a game we were expecting to win and it was important to win,” said Benítez, whose side have registered one victory in their past 12 fixtures and have a crucial game against Stoke City on New Year’s Day. “But Brighton were well-organised. We have to improve.”

He asked the Gallowgate-Enders who, unusually, vented their frustrations, for a little more patience. “The supporters have been really good for a while,” said Benítez, who could do with Amanda Staveley’s long-mooted takeover actually happening. “But they have to understand we need them behind the team. If we want to stay in the Premier League we have to all stay together. With the support of the fans it’s easier.”

As one of his predecessors here, Hughton appreciates the difficulty of managing under Mike Ashley’s idiosyncratic ownership but has too many preoccupations of his own to spare much sympathy right now. Not that he departed downcast. “There weren’t many clear chances but we were the better side over 90 minutes,” he said. “It could have been three points for us.”

Privately, at least, few Newcastle fans would disagree, particularly after a first half almost as messy as the remnants of Friday’s snow, which had left Tyneside’s pavements covered in a treacherous, half-frozen sludge. Things might have been even worse for the locals if Anthony Knockaert was two-footed.

Brighton’s French winger, who was deployed down the right here, proved the best attacking player on view, but a heavy dependence on his left foot slowed their game down at vital moments, frequently permitting Paul Dummett, Knockaert’s marker, to reassert himself.

Even so, Brighton shaded things when an amorphous Newcastle all too often seemed unsure as to whether they should be attacking or defending, and Dwight Gayle, Benítez’s most dangerous striker, was repeatedly second-guessed by the impressive Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy.

With Newcastle struggling to set the tempo, Brighton had reason for cautious optimism. As half-time beckoned that very nearly turned to celebration when Duffy headed Pascal Gross’s corner narrowly wide. It was a significant reprieve for Newcastle, who seemed affected by their run of five straight home defeats. Admittedly, Mat Ryan made one important save early in the second half, but even that was down to Isaac Hayden’s routine shot deflecting off Dunk.

Ryan subsequently performed wonders to dive to his left and repel Gayle’s header after the striker bisected two defenders and connected with Christian Atsu’s cross from the left wing. At the other end, Karl Darlow also did well to dive to his right and keep Dunk’s header out after Duffy had flicked on a corner.

With Matt Ritchie, Newcastle’s once catalytic right-winger, having apparently morphed from talisman to passenger, Brighton rarely looked like conceding and were allowed to get away with some overly deep late defending.

After the chorus of boos that greeted the final whistle had faded away, Benítez was asked how hard it is for a newly promoted team to survive in the Premier League. “Difficult,” he replied. “It’s difficult.”