Glenn Murray winds up for a volley but is flagged offside in the area - but he was allowed to roam free and was only just in front of the last man. Not great defending at the moment from Newcastle, and the crowd are getting edgy.

Another moment to forget for Ritchie - in defence this time, as his attempted clearance goes to Knockaert, who shoots first time - but straight at Darlow.

Duffy puts Gayle on the floor and is spoken to - but not booked - by referee Anthony Taylor. But Matt Ritchie's free kick is awful - floated over from deep, Lascelles and Clark, not being 12 feet tall, can't get anywhere near it.

Image source, Reuters

Finally, a decent chance for Newcastle with Gayle doing really well to reach and then pull the ball back towards goal. Ryan can only parry it, but the ball is just out of reach for the onrushing Joselu in the six-yard area.

Image source, Reuters

That's better from March, who sends in a low cross with a lot of pace on it that Darlow has to come out to claim in front of Murray. The away side are having the better of it so far.

Brighton have settled well, winning a free-kick which the hosts have to knock behind for another corner. It's a poor one, going all the way out to March, who having lost it then pulls Gayle back

Brighton win another corner, which Pascal Gross chips over into the six-yard area. Shane Duffy meets it with his head and sees his effort go a long way over, but the defender has an arm-waving rant at the linesman for not giving another corner to the away side after a possible deflection.

Joselu gets into space to try a cross from the left, but a Brighton leg deflects it high into the air and it's knocked away from the Brighton area.

A great run by Isaac Hayden on the right flank ends with a lovely cross, which Dwight Gayle, under pressure from Bruno deep inside the box, manages to get to - only for the ball to skim off his head and away towards the touchline.

Image source, Reuters

Glenn Murray turns and races towards a ball over the top, but the offside trap has been sprung and does its job. "One Chrissie Hughton" rings out around the ground - a nice touch for the popular former manager.

Paul Dummett slides in to stop a thump-away pass heading Knockaert's way, getting a big ovation from the home fans for his efforts.

Image source, Reuters

Ciaran Clark has to concede a corner, flicking Anthony Knockaert's cross behind with his head. Karl Darlow struggles to get a hand to it, and it's Jamaal Lascelles who rises above the rest to back-head the ball away from danger.

Good start from the hosts, with Christian Atsu and Matt Ritchie both bursting into the box between two defenders before Mat Ryan snuffs the chance out.

Solly March gives away the first free-kick, catching Joselu late inside the Newcastle half, with the hosts attacking the Gallowgate end.

And we're off, with Brighton getting us under way.

The teams are out, the managers exchange pleasantries and, of course, Mark Knopfler's "Going home" is blasting out of the PA. Well, it is St James' Park...

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez: "We want to win and we think we can win, but Brighton will be thinking exactly the same. We'll try to score goals and play at the level we did at West Ham.

"These are the games where people expect us to compete and to win, so my concern is to approach the games with the belief that we can win."

Brighton manager Chris Hughton: "Newcastle are a team we know very well, we know they have a lot of quality.

"They haven't had the best of times of late but we know on a good day for them they can be a fairly formidable team, they have enough quality to make them very dangerous opponents."

Image source, BBC Sport

Brighton are only three points above Newcastle in the table but I just don't see Chris Hughton's side getting relegated - I never really have.

It is different with Newcastle, and I am little bit worried for them. The takeover of the club is turning into a long-running saga and they need to bring in new players in January.

They have Rafael Benitez as manager, which is a huge positive, but who is he talking to about potential signings? Is it the current regime or the new people? It is a very difficult situation for them.

Prediction: 1-1

Lawro's full predictions v Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell.

Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.

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"Right, Jacob, our losing run at home ends at five, OK?"

Messrs Murphy and Shelvey will have to contribute off the bench if they are turn things around for Newcastle...

Brighton's away form is nothing to write home about either - the past four road trips have ended in defeat, with no goals scored. At least their performances at the Amex have kept them in mid-table.

Image source, Reuters