Newcastle's special guest feels Isak pain and sad Willock moment sums up Brighton loss

There was much to reflect on after Newcastle United's 1-0 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday

There was one man in St James' Park who was probably feeling as much pain as Alexander Isak himself on Saturday afternoon.

Time after time, the £63million man asked for precision and tried to orchestrate those around him as the game slipped away from Eddie Howe's side. Decent service? That would have been a fine thing because other than a sumptuous move involving Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, which Isak saw saved by Bart Verbruggen, the service levels were low.

Howe must have known this after turning to Harvey Barnes and Miguel Almiron while William Osula was also called upon for the dying embers. Having watched Jacob Murphy fail to put in one accurate cross for the Swedish goal-getter and even see the former La Liga man get so sick and tired, put in a cross of his own which Anthony Gordon missed in the box, Howe admitted afterwards that his call for the cavalry had backfired.

Barnes managed one cross and Almiron managed none. Just above Howe in the stands sat arguably one of the greatest crossers of a ball in black and white history.

Former Toon favourite Keith Gillespie, a special guest of the club, used to revel in picking out stars like Alan Shearer, Tino Asprilla and Les Ferdinand. Back post, front post, floated crosses, drilled crosses or a nice low ball for a striker to sweep home, you name it, it was in the Gillespie play book.

But sadly, Newcastle are lacking a star like the ex-Northern Ireland man who specialises in making goals for others. Barnes and Anthony Gordon have had their moments, but Isak has had too many games where he has cut a frustrated figure leading the line.

Sadly, against Brighton, this was another one. And both he and Gillespie knew it better than anybody.

Joe Willock trademark pass attempt sums up where he and Newcastle are at the moment

There have been times when everything Joe Willock touched in a black and white shirt turned to gold. For example, his seven goals in seven games back in the 2020/21 season that put him on the same unique record as Alan Shearer.

Or his break away goal against Man United in what now feels like a halcyon 2022/23 campaign as he tucked home in a 2-0 win. But perhaps his greatest moment in a Toon shirt wasn't a goal and rather an assist.

Willockinho, as the fans called him, dinked a delightful pass with the outside of his boot into the path of Isak that day before the Swede ran on and scored in the 6-1 win over Spurs. Well, on Saturday, in almost the same position on the field as that day, Willock tried the same pass again.

This time it rolled harmlessly out of play but it was a sad reminder of where Newcastle are right now. For some reason, they aren't clicking like we know they can.

The cast of characters are still in place with Willock, Isak, Murphy, Joelinton, Bruno, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn all on the pitch like that day. However, Newcastle of autumn 2024 look like a team some distance behind the side that turned on the style for 21 minutes against Spurs.

Solving that problem may be just as impressive as finding the formula that led Howe's team to greatness two years ago.

Fabian Hurzeler honesty in press conference

The German 31-year-old did not get carried away after winning in his first game at St James' Park. He accepted that for long periods Brighton were second best.

But felt his team, in the end, deserved what they got. In an impressive press conference he said afterwards: The former St Pauli coach said: "At the time he scored we didn’t deserve the goal, but Danny showed his quality. We worked the move well. It’s impressive how Danny Welbeck works for the team and counter presses. He is a role model for the younger players and when you work hard like he does you get what you deserve.

“Of course, you focus on the process but you also need results for belief. Today wasn’t perfect but it was important to get a result. I think we can improve in all phases. The result was good, the performance was okay but the players on the pitch did a brilliant job and suffered together.”