18-year-old Evan Ferguson was able to grab a hat-trick as Brighton defeated Newcastle in a match played at home late on Saturday, September 2.
Bouncing back from last weekend’s loss to West Ham United with aplomb, Roberto De Zerbi’s men put on a show for new signings Ansu Fati and Carlos Baleba, as Ferguson’s stock rose even higher with a spectacular treble.
Nick Pope set the tone for a wobbly Newcastle performance, making multiple errors for Brighton’s opener which was clinically finished by the 18-year-old Irishman after Billy Gilmour’s shot was spilled by the goalkeeper.
Brighton’s style of play at the match was sumptuous, running rings around Newcastle’s midfield and Ferguson’s second goal was a thing of beauty as he curled home majestically from 25 yards.
His third had an element of luck as his shot from outside the box took a deflection off Schar to fly beyond stranded Pope.
Eddie Howe’s men, who scored a late consolation through Callum Wilson, now head into the international break on the back of three straight defeats having lost to Man City, Liverpool, and Roberto De Zerbi’s barnstorming team.
Ferguson has now scored 10 Premier League goals in just 24 appearances for Brighton. He is the fourth Irish player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League after Leon Best, Robbie Keane, and Jon Walters.
Brighton are now fourth on the Premier League table with three wins from four games, while Newcastle are 14th with only one win from four putting pressure on Eddie Howe.
Success for the Seagulls, who also pulled off a transfer coup on Friday, September 1, by signing Ansu Fati on loan from Barcelona, was a third from four this season following last weekend’s loss to West Ham.