Danny Welbeck has already scored as many top-flight goals as he managed last season
Danny Welbeck’s first-half goal proved decisive as Brighton condemned Newcastle to their first Premier League defeat at home since January.
The result lifts the Seagulls up to fifth in the table with the Magpies remaining in eighth.
Brighton had spent most of the opening period defending when Welbeck’s quick thinking made the difference.
The former England forward, who turns 34 next month, played a clever one-two with Georginio Rutter before placing the ball in the bottom right corner with the visitors' first effort on goal of the afternoon.
Welbeck, who was withdrawn on a stretcher late on after appearing to injure his back, has now scored five goals in eight appearances in the top flight this term.
However, Brighton’s victory was also down to some resilient defending and profligate finishing from the hosts.
Eddie Howe's side carved out several promising openings with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon both going close but they were unable to find a way past visiting goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Continued Welbeck renaissance boosts Brighton
While all the pre-match focus was on the return of Newcastle's talismanic striker Isak from injury, another centre forward, Welbeck, underlined his importance to Brighton.
The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker would undoubtedly have collected more than the 42 caps he holds for his country if it were not for a catalogue of injuries hampering him during his prime.
However, Welbeck, who, is - unusually - a couple of years older than his manager Fabian Hurzeler, is enjoying a purple patch in front of goal as he enters the twilight of his career.
If you were to simply deduct his contributions in the opposition penalty area this season, Brighton would be seven points worse off, hovering above the bottom three.
Instead they are rubbing shoulders with sides with far bigger budgets who are chasing Champions League positions.
Brighton's steely defensive effort was also encapsulated late in the game as Lewis Dunk and Pervis Estupinan combined superbly to snuff out the danger posed when the ball reached Miguel Almiron eight yards from their goal.
Wasteful Newcastle pay the price
While Brighton will travel back down to the south coast in a jubilant mood, Eddie Howe and his Newcastle team will wonder just how they contrived to let three points slip away.
After a scrappy opening 10 minutes Newcastle largely controlled proceedings, with Isak and Gordon - two players both in line for new contracts – carrying their main attacking threat.
However, England winger Gordon’s curling effort, which was tipped to safety by Verbruggen, became a precursor of what was to follow.
Isak, played expertly through on goal by Bruno Guimaraes, was also unable to beat the Netherlands international and his deflected shot after the break was also well repelled.
Neither their flurry of substitutions or shots just after the hour mark brought any reward and when Dan Burn did lob at Verbruggen late on, a VAR review was not necessary to spot that the Newcastle defender was well offside.
It ensured Newcastle failed to score a Premier League goal at home for the first time since the start of last term – a run of 22 games - and consigned them to their second defeat of the season.
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