Brighton 1 Newcastle 2: Five things we learned as Rafa Benitez’s side strike late to go top of the Championship
BRIGHTON rocked and reeled after Ayoze Perez's late winner fired Newcastle to the top of the Championship.
A freak goal from Mo Diame cancelled out Glenn Murray's penalty before Rafa Benitez was rewarded for his bold substitution as Toon came from behind to grab the win in the final ten minutes.
Here are FIVE THINGS we learned as the Championship title race entered squeaky bum time at the Amex...
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1) Significant stats bode well for Toon... and not for Seagulls
It was the first time that Newcastle had come from a goal behind to win this season.
Benitez's side have bullied teams at times this season and proved to be be formidable frontrunners in games.
But until tonight, nobody had been better at it than Brighton.
The Seagulls had won all 18 of the games they had gone ahead in - agonisingly going down on the 19th occasion against their title rivals.
Nervy Seagulls fans worry this season is 'now or never' for them, after posting a £26million loss and fears the team could break up if they fail in their promotion charge for a second successive season.
They will now be looking over their shoulders, with Huddersfield poised to move within three points if they win their game in hand.
The Terriers' home clash with Newcastle on Saturday evening could blow the race wide open.
2) Benitez held his nerve in the Toon dugout
While the visitors had their chances, with none better than that which fell to Christian Atsu at the end of the first half, Brighton frustrated them.
Seagulls gaffer Chris Hughton boldly went for two up front with Sam Baldock and scorer Murray leading the line.
Benitez called for striker Daryl Murphy seven minutes before Diame's leveller but, not content with just a point, the Spaniard brought on a striker for a striker when Perez replaced Yoan Gouffran.
And how that call paid off.
3) Aleksandar Mitrovic doesn't look to have much of a future under Benitez
With Toon missing 20-goal marksman Dwight Gayle, Gouffran got the nod ahead of benched Serbian hitman Mitro.
But Murphy and match-winner Perez both got on as he stayed parked in the dugout.
While Gouffran and Perez both have the pace in their favour over Mitro, the same can't be said of Murphy.
Mitro was Toon's fifth-choice striker tonight.
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4) Matt Ritchie wins battle of 'inverted wingers'
Whether in vogue or making the best of what the bosses had, both went with a pair of wingers who looked to cut infield and onto their stronger feet.
Anthony Knockaert has been on fire this season and the Frenchman has arguably been the best wide man in the division.
But Ritchie has not been far behind. And it was his night at the Amex.
The former Bournemouth and Swindon man provided a telling contribution with a stunning raking pass which led to Toon's winner.
5) Bobby Madley can't be accused of bottling it against Toon
His decision to award the penalty for Murray's opener with the FOURTH spot-kick he's given in seven games against Toon.
Ciaran Clark can feel pretty hard done by, given how much shirt-pulling goes on at pretty much every corner.
But the former Villa defender DID have his arms around Murray and you'd see that given anywhere else on the pitch, even if the pair tripped over to help Madley make his call.
