22 mins Kieran Trippier's flag kick from the North West Corner was directed at Callum Wilson on the near post. He was shoved out of the way by Deniz Undav, who rose with colleague Moises Caicedo in close attendance and helped the ball on its way into the far side of his own net. 1-0

45+4 mins Trippier again provided the assist, this time curling in a free kick from the right side of the box attacking the Leazes End. With alleged marker Undav looking on, Dan Burn rose to direct a cushioned header down and into the net from six yards out. 

The former Brighton player didn't hold back on his celebrations, indulging in a knee slide before being mobbed by his colleagues - Trippier and Sven Botman pushing him towards the celebrating fans. 2-0

Half time: Magpies 2 Seagulls 0

51 mins Seconds after Jason Steele pulled off a block to deny Miggy Almiron from close range, the visitors counter-attacked; Billy Gilmour striding forward unchecked into the Newcastle half before threading a low curling pass upfield to Deniz Undav.

He got ahead of Fabian Schar and dashed into the box before firing underneath Nick Pope and into the centre of the net from 12 yards. A VAR review confirmed the scorer was onside. 2-1

89 mins A no-nonsense shoulder charge from Trippier by his own corner flag on the United right on accounted for Mitoma and the captain played a short pass down the touchline to Elliot Anderson. 

His instant delivery infield to Almiron took another opponent out of contention and a change of pace and direction by Miggy left Caicedo trailing in his wake. A pass bisecting two Brighton players on the halfway line set Callum Wilson away and with Alexis Mac Allister engaged in a fruitless pursuit, Newcastle's number 9 finished confidently between Steele and his near post. 

Fears that the goal would be chalked off due to offside were banished by a well-timed replay of the crucial pass on the stadium's big screen - kudos to whoever managed to do that. 3-1

90+1 mins Isak easily dispossessed Caicedo just over halfway and promptly dispatched a perfect pass to find Callum Wilson powering between two defenders. He continued his run into the area before turning inside Lewis Dunk and dumping him on his backside. Looking up he rolled the ball into the path of Bruno Guimaraes, who rattled in a first-time rising shot from 12 yards out.

Elaborate series of celebrations followed from the goalscorer; pointing to himself, knee sliding, climbing on the hoardings, fingers in ears, cuddles with colleagues, badge tugs, forming an "A" with his fingers and then a heart sign - the latter pair dedicated to four year-old leukaemia victim Arthur Salters-Hoult, currently in the RVI 4-1

Full time: Magpies 4 Seagulls 1

Roberto De Zerbi said:

"We deserved to lose the game. I don't want to make any excuses. We didn't play well in the first half so we deserved to lose the game.

"We conceded two goals from two set pieces but we didn't play well. We didn't stay in the best conditions, we have a lot of injuries, but we have the possibility to win on Sunday.

"We knew it would be a tough game but we're strong and we'll prepare the next game in the best way. We suffered physically against Newcastle and there were many players who didn't play in the last period, but I don't need to say anything because we knew it would be difficult.

"We have to forget this day and prepare the next game [against Southampton]. It is a very important match in front of our fans. Newcastle deserve to qualify for the Champions League.

"They won against Man United 2-0, and they deserved to win, and in the first half with Arsenal, they were unlucky. They're a strong team, a very good team. 

"(It was) difficult for us, especially today, because we weren't with many powerful players with energy. We deserved to lose the game. I don't want to make any excuse. I think we play not good in the first half, and deserved to lose the game.

"We have to be strong in a tough period. I don’t love to make an excuse but we have eight, nine, I don’t know how many injuries we have. We are playing four games in 12 days.

We knew before the game the situation was difficult...I think we will be able to qualify anyway for Europe. We have to win two games. We play in our stadium with our fans. In our stadium we play with 12 players.

"It is a difficult period but to qualify for the Europa League we have to be stronger than everything. If we qualify in the Europa League we reach an historic target. We have the right motivation, we have the right energy to fight until the end.

"(Tonight) we didn’t understand well the man who could play and the man was Estupinan – and Caicedo, the full-backs. We didn’t understand the situation. We didn’t find the right player.

“We are not used to playing three games in a week and we suffer a lot. Moises Caicedo, Pervis, Mitoma - in the first half they don’t play well but I love them.

“They have to learn to play two games in four days. We are not used to it yet but next year we will be better, we will be ready to play every day."

Newcastle stand three points shy of qualifying for the Champions League after an incredible victory at an emotional St.James' Park on Thursday evening.

Winless in their last two outings - which in the eyes of some TV pundits amounted to a collapse - Eddie Howe's side began at a level reminiscent of the recent steamrollering of Spurs here but they were unable to translate that domination into goals during the first quarter of the game.

Alexander Isak, Miggy Almiron, Joe Willock and Fabian Schar all tried their luck with varying degrees of accuracy before United's incessant pressure paid off on 22 minutes; Lewis Dunk diverting Joelinton's shot out for a corner - only for Deniz Undav to flick Trippier's delivery into his own net.

The Magpie onslaught continued unabated; Almiron in particular thwarting Albion as they invariably played out from the back - a ploy that left the visitors in almost constant peril in and around their own box as a result of United's aggressive pressing. At times it looked like a computer game.

Dan Burn's smart turn and shot in the box deserved a goal and Schar's ball across the six yard box was begging to be turned home, but the lead was just one goal when first half added time began and a clash between Undav and Schar saw both booked and the hosts gain a free kick on the right.

Having spurned countless similar opportunities this season to convert from set pieces, Newcastle scored their second of the night in that fashion - Burn let unmarked to head Trippier's delivery down and in. Why we don't score like this every week remains a mystery, given the height we boast. 

Returning unchanged after the interval, Brighton threatened to make a game of it when Undav outpaced Schar and beat Nick Pope in the 51st minute - seconds after Miggy had been denied from close range at the other end of the pitch.

That goal was the signal for Roberto De Zerbi to make trio of replacements; World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and teenage prospects Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso - the latter no doubt labelled as the new Almiron by someone, somewhere.

Despite United coming close to restoring their two goal lead, mild apprehension was evident in the stands as Albion occupied the space caused by United pressing less; Jason Steele taking sweeper keeper to new levels as he spent increasing periods in possession outside his box. At the other end meanwhile, Pope didn't have a great deal to do but his wayward kicking caused concern.

Our match notes at this point include the phrase "rope a dope": a reference to the Ali / Foreman Heavyweight Championship fight when the former soaked up punishment in a ploy to burn out his opponent before counter-attacking with devastating consequences in the closing stages.

That didn't come to pass, although there were a couple of concerning moments when Albion seemed set to cut a path through the home defence straight to goal. Thankfully some desperate defending and hesitation in releasing the killer pass averted danger. 

A noticeable lessening of the tempo followed the loss of a hamstrung Willock, as Newcastle began to break up play. Joelinton was in need of treatment on several occasions, while individual feuds began to emerge, including an all-Paraguayan clash as Miggy reacted with uncharacteristic anger to Enciso's cheek. The younger one later apologised.    

Although the clock was running down, the fear factor of Brighton finding an equaliser persisted among the crowd, along with some restlessness as to the non-appearance of any further substitutes; both Wilson and Isak seemingly feeling the effects of their efforts by then. 

We should have known better, as the Seagulls were memorably interfered with (not for the first time in this region). Defence spectacularly became attack thanks to Trippier, Anderson and Almiron then a Sheareresque Wilson finish to perfectly round off a classic move. 

Better was to follow though; the black and whites in full flight and roared on, Wilson setting up Bruno to hammer home and trigger an explosion of joy, echoing the scenes that followed the Brazilian's Gallowgate End goals last season against Leicester City and Arsenal.

Incredibly there could have been a fifth; Wilson haring down the hill and into the box but unable to force the ball past Steele. Had that gone in, a structural survey of SJP may have been required before Monday nights finale.

Labelled as jaded by some when drawing at Elland Road on Saturday, the Magpies responded with a wholehearted display of incredible intensity; Trippier, Almiron, Wilson and Joelinton outstanding, but a huge collective effort by players and fans alike ultimately seeing them triumph. 

On nights like this at times like this, the synergy between those on and off the field at SJP is a wonder to behold. Rebuild, reconstruct, but never leave here and b*ll*cks to the capacity. Better to be like this than wandering in a West Ham wasteland where fans cannot wait to leave. Or Brighton for that matter.

This crucial and momentous victory came without Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff; the sick list lengthening still further as Trippier, Joelinton and Willock all limped off - the latter leaving the ground on crutches with what looked like a hamstring pull.  

Three points secured a top five finish for the first time since 2012 and as a minimum we'll play in the Europa League next season - our first involvement in a UEFA competition for a decade.

Victory over Leicester City on Monday will seal a top four finish and with it, qualification for the group stage of the Champions League. And victory for Aston Villa at Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, would assure United of a return to Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 2003. 

Wow, just wow.

Biffa