Brighton’s teenage superstar Evan Ferguson scored his first career hat-trick as Brighton won 3-1 against Newcastle, who have now lost three on the spin.
Nick Pope set the tone for a wobbly Newcastle performance, making multiple errors for Brighton’s opener which was clinically finished by Ferguson after Billy Gilmour’s shot was spilled by the Toon goalkeeper.
Brighton’s football at times was sumptuous, running rings around Newcastle’s midfield and Ferguson’s second goal was a thing of beauty as he curled home majestically from 25 yards.
The points were wrapped up by Ferguson on 70 minutes as his deflected effort completely wrongfooted Pope to cap a quite extraordinary performance from the 18-year-old.
Eddie Howe’s men, who scored a late consolation through Callum Wilson, now head into the international break on the back of three straight defeats having lost to Man City, Liverpool and Roberto De Zerbi’s barnstorming team.
