Talking points from Newcastle's 2-1 defeat at Brighton
Anthony Gordon arrives for the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United
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Newcastle United star Anthony Gordon looked seething as he left the pitch at the Amex Stadium - and that was a good thing.
Fresh from international duty and a goal with England in the 5-0 win over Latvia, Gordon looked hungry for more but was stopped in his tracks with 20 minutes to go as Eddie Howe got ruthless with his changes.
After fans had applauded the away section, Gordon walked off alone, pondering what might have been and perhaps knowing he had more to give in a game in which cracks were starting to show. That proved to be the case on the opposite flank to where Gordon had been operating, as Lewis Miley's cross for Nick Woltemade levelled the score.
But unfortunately, the Magpies did not seize the initiative and crumbled to a late Danny Welbeck goal. Gordon could only watch from the bench as the game slipped away from Newcastle and they remained in the bottom half of the table.
Despite being used for England in both games against Wales and Latvia, Gordon had looked lively in the first half and picked up where he left off in Riga when knocking the ball past his man and getting to the byline. However, it did not materialse in anything clear-cut for his team-mates.
That said, Gordon still managed 50 touches in 70 minutes and had a shot on goal on a tough afternoon against the Seagulls. Taking Gordon off for a breather at least now gives him some freshness going into Tuesday's important game against Benfica.
One thing is for sure on Gordon, he is here to win and that can only bode well moving forward. Howe must surely want unhappy players in his dressing room after defeats, especially in games that Newcastle should be taking at least a point from.
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Lewis Miley makes strong case
The 19-year-old came on at half-time and could not have done much more in a positive 45 minute spell for the Stanley lad. Miley must now surely be in Howe's mind for the clash against Benfica with energy needed in a midfield that looked on its knees at times at Brighton.
That's no surprise with Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes all coming into the game on the back of international travel following duties for Italy and Brazil, respectively. Miley entered the pitch with Newcastle in need of a boost and he delivered with an assist, 40 touches and 35 passes in just one half of football.
The teenager's display was one of the big positives to come out of the 2-1 loss on the South Coast. Howe also admitted that there had been dysfunction in his engine room.
On Bruno, Tonali and Joelinton he said: "They are brilliant players but they didn't function well today but I don't think the team did."
Newcastle lost by going for jugular
Not for the first time this season, Newcastle lost a game in which they had a point in the pocket.
Just like they had against Liverpool, when conceding a 100th minute goal to lose it, and then against Arsenal, when they suffered another late choker, United were beaten close to the end.
Afterwards, Howe said: "It's a big moment. We're chasing the winner.
"We feel we're the better team in that moment in the game and we're chasing the goal. We want to win games."
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