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Nick Szczepanik's press verdict: Newcastle United

Albion's performance at St James's Park earns plenty of praise from watching media.

By Nick Szczepanik • 21 September 2020

By Craig Doyle
Adam Webster congratulates Neal Maupay after his second goal.

The best line from the reports of Albion’s 3-0 victory away to Newcastle United came from Craig Hope of the Daily Mail. And it was exceptional in another way – it was not written in praise of man of the match Tariq Lamptey.

Hope wrote that “The government have advised against needless journeys this week. Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan travelled 350 miles to Tyneside for absolutely no reason.”

That zinger perfectly summed up the dominance of Graham Potter’s side over the Geordies, but it was Lamptey’s individual display that dominated the reports in the national press.

It takes something special for the Tyneside press pack to write more about a visiting player than either the trials or triumphs of the Magpies. But you get the feeling that this will not be the last time that Albion’s jet-heeled wing back takes the majority of the plaudits.

Hope began his report by writing: “You can add the name of Tariq Lamptey to that of Mo Salah and Kevin de Bruyne. The Ones That Got Away, you might say.

“For had Chelsea boss Frank Lampard found himself in front of a television in the hours before Sunday’s visit of Liverpool, it would have made for rueful viewing. How on earth did he sanction the teenager’s sale? And for £3million, no less.

22:08

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Extended PL Highlights: Newcastle 0 Albion 3

“Much has been made of Chelsea letting go of Salah and De Bruyne, two future PFA Player of the Year winners. It could be that Lamptey joins that list one day, too.

“Lampard must really fancy Chelsea right-back Reece James, for Lamptey … has the world at his feet.

“Against Newcastle he invariably had the ball at his feet and black-and-white shirts in his wake. He retired hurt after 58 minutes - the hosts’ most accurate connections all game were with Lamptey’s ankles - but he could have walked off after eight minutes, job done.”

Luke Edwards of the Daily Telegraph wrote that “We have only had two rounds of Premier League fixtures and it is already safe to say you will not see a better display of attacking wing back play than the one Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey delivered here.”

In the Independent, Damien Spellman joined in the praise. “Tariq Lamptey ripped Newcastle to shreds as Brighton opened their Premier League account with a comfortable victory at Newcastle.

“The 19-year-old wing-back left the Magpies in disarray as Graham Potter's men raced into a 2-0 lead at St James' Park courtesy of Neal Maupay's double inside the opening seven minutes before Aaron Connolly wrapped up a comprehensive 3-0 win despite Yves Bissouma's late dismissal.

01:17

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Lamptey determined to stay focused

“But if it was Maupay who did the damage, it was Lamptey who paved the way as he repeatedly left defenders trailing in his wake, prompting an agricultural response from a shell-shocked home side, who have never beaten the south coast outfit in the Premier League, a run which extended to seven games.”

Louise Taylor of The Guardian added that “Whenever Tariq Lamptey ran at them it seemed as if Newcastle United’s players were operating with their boots laced together.

“To say Steve Bruce’s side were terrorised by Graham Potter’s teenage right wing-back is an understatement and the resultant psychological damage could take some time to repair.”

A number of writers emphasised the meteoric rise of the former Chelsea youngster. Martin Hardy of The Times pointed out that “Lamptey, a player who will not turn 20 until the end of this month and was making only his 11th appearance in the Premier League, had already won his side the game by half-time.

“There had been the penalty he won for the first goal, a key pass for the second, the two bruising challenges from Newcastle United players that drew deserved yellow cards for Jonjo Shelvey and Jamal Lewis and a saving sprint and tackle to deny Callum Wilson on one of the very rare forays Newcastle had into the Brighton & Hove Albion half.

“When he did finally leave the field for good, in the 58th minute, his body of work was such that no player lasting longer could outdo his productivity. There had even been four interceptions (more than anyone on the pitch) and four fouls won (again, more than anyone on the pitch) and his 12 sprints would end up being the second highest.

02:32

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Potter's Newcastle delight

“It needed remembering that Lamptey, a product of the Chelsea academy, had only made his first Premier League appearance in December last year.”

The Albion display in general also drew praise. In the i, Michael Walker wrote that “controlled and clever, Brighton strolled around St James’s Park. In Tariq Lamptey, Steven Alzate, Yves Bissouma, Neal Maupay and Aaron Connolly, they had a five-a-side team that controlled the game from kick-off.”    

“From first minute to last Brighton were slicker, more fluid and created enough chances to have won the game by more than three,” Hardy added. “Mat Ryan by contrast in the Brighton goal did not have a save to make all afternoon. It was a chastening afternoon for Mike Ashley, sat alone in the St James’ Park directors’ box.

“The game had only just passed the two-minute mark when Lamptey cut in from the touchline on the right, ran at Allan Saint-Maximin and then changed the angle of his run to move towards the byline. Saint-Maximin responded with a clumsy lunge that clipped the trailing leg of the Brighton man and referee Kevin Friend rightly awarded a penalty that Neil Maupay fired past Karl Darlow.

“In the seventh minute Lamptey played a fine ball out wide to Leandro Trossard, who was in behind Lewis. VAR would prove that he was fractionally onside (despite a flag), and the low cross to Maupay was met by the most deft of finishes, with his body open, to steer the ball into the Newcastle goal.

“Just past the hour mark, Wilson headed over from six yards from a Miguel Almiron cross, but it was against the run of play and it was Brighton who had many opportunities.”

02:28

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Maupay: Top class team performance

Hope wrote that “Where Graham Potter’s Brighton had a clear identity, game plan and the ability to execute it, Newcastle had no shots on target and no ideas. The visitors netted a deserved third seven minutes from time when the excellent Maupay fed Aaron Connolly and he curled into the far corner from 12 yards. It was all too easy.

“Maupay and Trossard had earlier smacked the woodwork, while Wilson headed over when unmarked from six yards. But that was a rare sight at goal.

“The game did end on a sour note for Brighton when Yves Bissouma was sent off for a high boot in the face of Jamal Lewis. But the result was never doubt. In fact, it hadn’t been for the best part of 80 minutes.”

Steve Sutcliffe wrote on the BBC Sport website that “While Potter was taking positives in defeat on Monday, he will have been delighted to see the industry and creativity of his side fully rewarded six days later.

“A lightning start and some typically slick football saw his team slice through Newcastle on several occasions to gain a two-goal cushion they rarely looked like relinquishing.”

Taylor’s verdict was that “If Newcastle’s unhinging raised all sorts of awkward questions, it also offered further vindication of the radical stylistic overhaul Potter has presided over on the south coast. Not even Yves Bissouma’s late sending off could strip the sheen from a most accomplished visiting performance.”