This would be the single biggest statement of intent from Newcastle United since Liverpool | OneFootball

Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium have become a tough nut to crack for Newcastle United, for what is going on a decade.

And so it proved again this weekend in our most recent encounter.

After a composed start United then fell into pedestrian mode and there was a distinct lack of urgency in our play.

We were duly punished by a Yankuba Minteh strike and this seemed to be the belated wake up call that was required.

I figured that we would come out much more positively for the second period and thankfully this proved to be the case.

What must be acknowledged is that Bruno and his sidekick the Italian Stallion weren’t really at the races on Sunday.

I also thought that our talisman Ice Cold Alex could have given Claude Rains a good run for his money as the ‘Invisible Man’, up until the last quarter of the game.

On the plus side, Dan Burn continues to look the part in what has proved to be an immense season for the Big Lad from Blyth.

I also thought Harvey Barnes put a solid afternoon’s graft in.

It would have been criminal if United hadn’t got anything from this game and an equaliser from the penalty spot arrived not before time.

Our Rolls Royce Alex was never going to throw away such a late lifeline and his penalty was coolly dispatched, sending the Seagulls keeper the wrong way.

There was eventually over ten minutes of injury time played and in the end I was glad to hear the final whistle.

Taking everything into account this could turn out to be a very valuable point in a couple of weeks time.

I never expected any favours from Liverpool against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and the tone was set for that game in the first few minutes when the Blues cut through the scousers defence with Enzo Fernandez neatly tucking the ball away.

I’ve always been a believer that we should do things off our own backs. Remember Salford last season against Man City in the FA Cup Final for instance?

That little upset at the time cost us a place in Europe and my motto anyway, has always been to never rely on anybody else…because they usually let you down.

Saying all that, I thought whilst watching the game that Liverpool just didn’t want to know or be involved. That was disappointing after Chelsea had given them a respectful guard of honour when the teams entered the pitch before kick off.

So we are now neck and neck with Chelsea and they are our visitors next week and I’ll honestly reiterate right now what I think about them.

I believe as a team they are a band of mercenaries, definitely overrated, not always up to digging down hard enough in the trenches when the going gets tough.

Their owners have been getting away with taking all kinds of liberties these last few years (***Having done the same for a couple of decades as well under Abramovich) and that’s because Chelsea are a protected species being one of the Cartel.

One thing that’s for sure, is that these West End boys don’t like coming ‘Norf’ to Newcastle and St James’ Park.

That’s because we usually stick it up them and I believe that will probably be the case again, on a few conditions.

Sunday’s game has a 12pm kick off that doesn’t really allow much time for pre-match refreshment and rehydration for the fans.

Nevertheless I expect our supporters to be right up for this game, turn Gallowgate into an intimidating cauldron of passion and noise. This bunch of prima donnas and their self-entitled fans won’t know what’s hit them if we are all in this together.

Eddie’s team haven’t been firing on all cylinders recently and I reckon there was words said at half-time against Brighton.

Newcastle United have to take this game by the scruff of the neck in a composed manner. It has been frustrating to see the ball being turned over to the opposition through our own sloppiness in recent games.

The onus cannot always be on Alexander Isak but we do need our super Swede to step it up an extra percent. He should be well capable of keeping Chelsea’s defence occupied, allowing the likes of Barnes, Gordon or Murphy to exploit any holes or weaknesses.

I’ve a feeling that Lewis Miley may be utilised alongside Sandro Tonali and Bruno for this game. This would keep things compact in the middle and give us a physical advantage.

Without taking things too far and being over dramatic, maybe it’s also time for someone apart from Big Dan to rally the troops in the dressing room, with a rousing sentiment or piece of poetic camaraderie appropriate for such an occasion.

There are of course still three Premier League games left to play for Newcastle United. Beating Chelsea first and foremost will send out the biggest single statement of intent since we beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup Final