Newcastle take on Brighton in the evening kick-off on Saturday, in a game which can see Steve Bruce’s side leapfrog their opponents with a much-needed win.
Skipper Jamaal Lascelles spoke to the official club website, and described games against teams like Brighton as “six pointers” and stressed the importance of taking points from games against teams that could be “in and around” us at the end of the season.
Lascelles also described games against Brighton as “a bit more than a normal game”, which he puts down to them losing out on the Championship title to Newcastle a few seasons ago, and he claimed the Seagulls have a “bit of bitterness towards us” as a result.
He said: “We’ve always had a little thing for Brighton. Probably from that Championship season.
“The majority of the season we were top, quite a few points ahead, and towards the end they overtook us and they probably thought they’d come first, and we just got them at the end, so they’ve got a bit of bitterness towards us as well.
“Every time we play them in the Premier League, it’s always a bit more than a normal game.”
Certainly Newcastle do need to win games like these, and this weekend against Graham Potter’s side will be a better gauge as to where we are, than those against top sides like Liverpool.
Newcastle cannot afford to concede an early goal against Brighton
But we cannot, and must not, give away an early goal, as we did against Watford, which meant having to chase the game, with the visitors sitting in with two lines of defenders to break down.
Getting off to a fast start is huge on Saturday, and was something Lascelles identified.
“It is important we start well, just to let the other team know that it’s going to be a tough game for them,” he stressed.
“It’s important we get our fans behind us right at the start.”
Although it is not a must-win game as far as the season goes, it is crucial that we pick up the points, particularly with a very tough three games following it.
But as long as the players stay positive, and stick to their game-plan, there is no reason not to expect to get the first home win of the season.
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