HOW ironic it would be if a player Newcastle had to sell to satisfy the bean-counters ended up costing them the riches of the Champions League.
Yankuba Minteh was one of two fall-guys, along with Geordie boy Elliot Anderson, who were flogged in the summer to comply with profit and sustainability rules.
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It was the Gambian’s early strike that dented the Toon’s top-five charge here.
Though Alexander Isak’s late penalty, after the Toon had two overturned by VAR, prevented the damage from being too severe.
Minteh, 20, flew South to Brighton having never actually played in the black-and-white.
Eddie Howe did not want to lose the winger or Anderson, 22, who has become the beating heart of Nottingham Forest’s unexpected push to be in Europe’s elite club competition.
But his hand was forced by the financial strait-jacket that PSR has become to the Toon in spite of their Saudi wealth.
And Minteh showed exactly why here with his opener just before the half-hour.
The youngster seemed to revel in it too, almost baiting the away fans by waving his finger at them and pointing to the turf as if to say, ‘This is my home now’.
It was in stark contrast to his decision not to celebrate at all after netting the leveller in Albion’s FA Cup triumph at St James’ Park in March.
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Supporters were left wondering why the attitude shift.
But all Howe would have been worrying about was how much it would impact his side’s ambitions, which were boosted by Isak’s last-gasp spot-kick.
The Magpies remain in the boxseat but face a tricky run-in with Chelsea and Everton at home to go, plus a trip to the Emirates in between.
Trying to work out the complex permutations for who exactly can qualify for Europe would give Professor Brian Cox a headache.
It could be up to TEN sides – albeit a few unlikely scenarios would have to occur to make that happen.
Safe to say both Brighton and Newcastle, who already have a Europa Conference League place in the bag from the EFL Cup triumph, are right in the mix.
The visitors only had to look at their dreadful, winless record at the Amex to know how tough this game would be.
Albion may have conceded 15 in their last six league games, but they have not lost to Newcastle in any of their seven Prem home games against them.
Minteh was put up against Dan Burn – who made the opposite move to the jet-heeled winger when leaving Brighton to kickstart Howe’s revolution in 2022 – from the off.
But the youngster’s game looked like it might be up after only five minutes when he went down clutching his knee and requiring treatment.
Fortunately he was able to carry on, and was later incensed when no foul, let alone a yellow card, was given after Burn looked to have cleaned him out.
Whether that got Minteh’s blood up that led to his fiery reaction to his goal, or the fact that a foul WAS given against him for a challenge on Tino Livramento soon after, is unclear.
But after Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock had wasted half-chances for the visitors, Minteh suddenly found himself with space in the box.
He evaded Livramento and Sandro Tonali before firing a shot, which whipped up off Burn, and flew into the corner.
It prompted his curious celebration in front of the away fans and eventually team-mate Mats Wieffer had to drag Minteh away.
Dutchman Wieffer looked momentarily in trouble early into the second half after catching Tonali when already on a yellow, but ref Craig Pawson rightly showed leniency.
Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler sensibly subbed him off straight after for Tariq Lamptey, minutes before Anthony Gordon came on for Newcastle.
Within seconds of the England man’s introduction, the first of two penalties that were later overturned was given when Lamptey tripped Gordon.
Yet VAR showed the initial contact came just outside the box and Pawson altered his decision to a free-kick.
With 20 minutes to go, Pawson again pointed to the spot when Joe Willock went down under Jan Paul van Hecke’s challenge.
But once again Pawson changed his mind after consulting the pitchside monitor and booked Willock for a dive.
Brighton could have had a spot-kick of their own when Tonali looked to catch Matt O’Riley, but nothing was given.
With four minutes to go, Newcastle finally had a penalty that would stand after Fabian Schar’s belting free-kick hit the outstretched hand of sub Yasin Ayari.
There was a lengthy VAR check despite this one being a stonewaller, and eventually Isak was allowed to do the business from 12 yards.
Nine minutes of injury-time followed, during which sub Diego Gomez missed a sitter of a header with his first touch, as Howe was left wondering if his old player may end up costing his side a Mint.
