Forward, Deniz Undav has called on Brighton fans to provide “crazy” support in their push for Europa League qualification.
Brighton’s top-four dreams were all but mathematically ended in a 4-1 defeat at Newcastle in which Undav’s own-goal put the Magies in front, although he pulled a goal back after half-time following ex Seagull – Dan Burn’s header which doubled Newcastle’s lead.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies eventually condemned Brighton to a second loss in three matches courtesy of late goals from Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes.
Brighton now must win all three of their remaining games and hope Manchester United plus Liverpool lose all of their remaining matches, otherwise they will face Europa League qualification at maximum if they can win two of their last three fixtures.
“The own goal was unlucky, the second one it wasn’t necessary for me to go down and give them the free-kick. I scored a goal, but the defeat is on me,” commented Undav post-match as he vowed to “take responsibility and I should be smarter.”
On blowing their top-four hopes in the final minutes with two quick-fire conceded goals, Undav added: “I am not happy we lost, the two goals happen at the end because we opened up trying to find an equaliser.”
Undav nevertheless praised Newcastle for their performance which his team can learn from, as he continued: “They pressed really well, we knew that they were a strong, physical and smart team. They ran a lot.
“We should have been a lot better in the first half, but that’s the test, we have to learn from it.
“We have to use it for the next game and next year, not to waste a first half like we did. We were a different team in the second half, we were unlucky not to score a second goal.”
With home games against Southampton and Manchester City to come on 21 and 24 May respectively, Undav has iterated that he and his teammates must build upon their second-half performance on Tyneside and “need to show a reaction and take all the points.”
Undav consequently has urged supporters to get behind the club in those games who he describes as “always a big part,” of their motivation, especially after going “crazy” in their support on Tyneside despite chasing the game throughout after Undav’s own-goal opened the scoring.
The German now wants to see that spirit maintained across their final three matches of the season, as he concluded: “We hope it’s like this for the last three games. We need to make sure that we are ready and we give everything.”
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