BRIGHTON, England (Reuters) – Brighton & Hove Albion were thwarted by two goal-line clearances as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Newcastle United in their Premier League clash at a sun-drenched Amex Stadium on Saturday.
With temperatures soaring to more than 30 degrees Celsius on England’s south coast, the game got off to a flying start as Brighton pinned back the visitors for the first 10 minutes before Newcastle started to hit back with lightning-quick counter attacks.
Solli March looked to have given Brighton the lead in the 33rd minute but fullback Kieran Trippier was on hand to clear the ball off the line, with replays showing that most of the ball was over the line.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope made a brilliant save early in the second half, clawing away Adam Lallana’s header after Brighton’s attacking midfielder was left unmarked in the box.
Tempers boiled over in the 57th minute though, as Joelinton and Solli March got involved in a shoving match down by the corner flag, with both players getting shown the yellow card.
The water break shortly afterwards – introduced this weekend due to scorching temperatures – was well-earned following a goalmouth scramble that saw Brighton go close, only for Newcastle to zip up the other end on the counter in a move stopped by a last-ditch tackle on Miguel Almiron.
Newcastle continued to threaten on the break and from set pieces, but it was Brighton who came closest to breaking the deadlock, forcing a number of saves from Pope and a goal-line clearance from Fabian Schaer as the game ended scoreless.
After winning their opening league fixtures last weekend, the draw leaves both sides on four points.
(Reporting by Philip O’Connor; editing by Clare Fallon and Hugh Lawson)
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