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EVAN FERGUSON HIT his first career hat-trick for Brighton as they capped a memorable week by inflicting a third successive Premier League defeat on Newcastle with a thumping 3-1 success at the Amex Stadium.
Teenage striker Ferguson curled home a superb second from range to add to a simple first-half finish before completing his treble with the aid of a hefty deflection off Fabian Schar.
The 18-year-old’s heroics arrived ahead of Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifiers this week against France on Thursday and Netherlands next Sunday.
Success for the Seagulls, who also pulled off a transfer coup on Friday by signing Ansu Fati on loan from Barcelona, was a third from four this season following last weekend’s loss to West Ham.
Newcastle were only beaten five times in the top flight during the whole of last term but were unable to halt their recent slide on the back of setbacks against Manchester City and Liverpool, despite Callum Wilson’s late consolation.
Striker Alexander Isak wasted two early opportunities before the Magpies were blown away and were then punished for mistakes of their own in the 27th minute.
Rushed clearances from keeper Nick Pope and midfielder Tonali led to the former spilling Billy Gilmour’s stinging effort and Ferguson was on hand to slot home the rebound.
With his team still awaiting their first attempt on target, Howe brought on England striker Wilson as part of a triple substitution in the 58th minute.
Isak’s pace remained a constant concern for the hosts but they soon secured breathing space courtesy of Ferguson’s magic.
The Ireland striker was afforded time and space deep inside Newcastle’s half and duly dispatched a fine curling effort into the bottom right corner from distance.
Anthony Gordon wasted a golden opportunity to halve Newcastle’s deficit by sidefooting wide before Brighton put the result beyond doubt.
Ferguson again took aim from outside the box, only this time his bending effort benefited from a significant deflection of Schar to fly beyond the stranded Pope.
The match-winner was withdrawn to a standing ovation nine minutes from time after making it 10 Premier League goals in just 12 starts.
Newcastle’s sold-out following were given scant reward on a punishing evening two minutes into added time when substitute Wilson burst forward and escaped Van Hecke to poke home.
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Written by Press Association and posted on the42.ie
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Great to see that from Ferguson. Brighton play some great football
@Barry Williams: great team to watch ,and consistent in what they do . Even last week when they somehow lost they kept at it
It is so great to see Ireland with a young, world class striker!
Good to see some hope for the national team
@Keith P: Yeah just need about 6 or 7 more good players
thank God for him, he might drag us in to a tournament or two. Tis great to see such a talent from this country
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: Hopefully but Haaland hasn’t been able to do it yet for Norway and they have Oddengard aswell!
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: wishful thinking but no chance of that happening
@Trent: yawn
How in the name of God does a young Irish player getting a hat trick for his club turn into a feckin Liverpool vs man united debate???
@pol mlp: maybe you should have watched him last season but you where probably asleep
@Trent: u luv insulting people on here
I’d love to know what he’s actually on about aswell to be fair
What a player, I sat back and watched it tonight, thinking, ok Evan show me What all the fuss is about, he was on the go all the time , not pulling up trees, but he was there. Then wham, 3 goals holy smoke, there are 3 players I can think of that remind me of him, all world class.
His heart is in Manchester United I’m afraid, although when De Zerbi goes to Barca that could happen too.
@Allo Allo: His heart is in Dalymount, the sports wheels off his car are in Manchester.
@Allo Allo: good point about Barca
@Allo Allo: Well, he is a Liverpool fan so hopefully they don’t get him. I’d like to see him stay at Brighton for another 2-3 seasons. He could get swallowed up at one of the bigger clubs of he moves too young.
United next season I hope
Arsenal next season !
@a million ,really ! country is gone mad .: Why would he go to that dump,, LFC in january
@a million ,really ! country is gone mad .: No chance, he said he wants to win trophies.
@Trent: LOL. The absolute state of Liverpool. The famous one in a row team. One league in 30 odd years. LOL.
@Michael Fielding: YNWA
@a million ,really ! country is gone mad .: Stated today he’s a United fan. Great. We’ll be trying to get him on loan with a fee of a packet of Cheese & Onion Taytos and a can of Monster.
@Michael Fielding: Who do you support? If it isn’t city, its being quite a while since your club won a league. Liverpool one league in 30 years, six in 40 years and eleven in fifty years. European royalty 6 times champions.
@Trent: am example of u replying to ur own comment..
@Denis Ryan: HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA LOL!
@Trent: why !he already plays in the Europa league
Very similar style of play to George Best. The future is bright for Ireland .
@Canada Goose G Dog: this is an irish website you do know george best played for the north
@Trent: And where is the north of ireland,it’s in Ireland.
@Trent: ah here is Mr racist again. Reported!
Hopefully he will never join loserpool!
Most successful British side ever. What do you nickname the rest of the teams
@Shaun Gallagher: don’t mind him he has a personalty complex keeps answering his own comments
@Trent: i have also seen u answering ur own commemts..
@: never 3 times in the mirror Candymam
@: These type of comments are pathetic and childish.
@Joseph Fitzgibbon: are u sure?
It looks like he’s the real deal and if he keeps it up at this rate Brighton will get another £100m plus for him.
Who was the last Irish player to score a premiership hatrick
@john kenny: Jeez. Seem to remember a quiz question like this doing the rounds. What 5 Irish internationals have scored pl hat tricks.
@Bert Carolan: My badness, it’s 3. Now 4 with Ferguson.
@john kenny: good question, Jonathan Walters in 2015.. or so Google says lol
@Joe Mc Dermott: About right.
Robbie and Leon Best.
@Bert Carolan: leon best. That’s a name that I haven’t heard in years.
@john kenny: Scored a hat trick against Newcastle apparently.
It’s Fergie time.
Brilliant
We have some good goalkeepers a decent defence and now hopefully a top class striker. If we could just come up with a midfielder or two we would be competing for qualification for major tournaments. Easier said than done I know.
Seems
Like a level headed young man.
Lovely fella. Quite shy and very mature for his age. He has a great family who won’t let success get to his head. Hopefully he continues on his current path.
If Brighton sell him then Bohs get about a 30 percent sell on fee. The equivalent of winning 30 league of Ireland titles if he is sold for 100 million. Bohs will be the new Saudis of Ireland.
Great for the national team,all we need now is a manager that is as good
Hopefully knock a few goals in against the French and the Dutch
What a great talent ,seems like he will keep.his feet on the ground too !! Great future ahead of he does !
And now he’s injured
Newcastle need another body in the closet, maybe Saudi can help
Stay where you are kid
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