Bruno Guimaraes makes Brighton admission after crucial Newcastle win
All the reaction from Brighton’s 3-1 loss at Newcastle United
Captain Bruno Guimaraes admitted Brighton were the better team in the second half Newcastle enjoyed a 3-1 home victory.
The hosts took an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Will Osula and Dan Burn.
Brighton though created chances and played much better in the second half and hauled themselves back in the match as Jack Hinshelwood made it 2-1.
Former Newcastle man Yankuba Minteh then missed a golden chance for the Seagulls before Harvey Barnes added a late third for Newcastle.
"It felt very good," said Guimaraes. "In the changing room before he game we knew today was important for us, chasing European football for next season. The points are crucial, we keep dreaming and believing.
"It was a tough game, Brighton are a good team. Today for everything we have done we deserve the win.
"They had a lot of chances. In the first half we were better but second half they were better. I am glad we could keep three points.
"We are looking up not down. We can still play European football next season, we must win the next three games."
Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke believes the Seagulls were far too open at the back and also said they hd enough chances to win the match.
“We were too open at the back and also the set-pieces,” said Van Hecke. “It’s hard when you are 2-0 down but after that we responded and scored a good goal.
“We then had a chance, another chance and then another chance and we tried to do everything we could.
“We conceded a third goal because we pushed for the 2-2 but it weas not enough.
“We had some big chances and in the end they had big chances. We were to open at the back.”
The result drops Brighton down to seventh and they have three matches to go to clinch a European spot.
Van Hecke added: “We had been on a good solid run. They are a good team, they are really strong and now we have to go at Wolves.”