RUTHLESS ISAK MAKES IT AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3...

Toon finally get their penalty after VAR rules out two earlier Pawson awards

- BY NEIL MCLEMAN

ALEXANDER ISAK netted a late equaliser from their third 'penalty' but Newcastle still paid the price for selling Yankuba Minteh for a second time this season.

VAR correctly denied Eddie Howe's side two second-half spot-kicks before referee Craig Pawson completed his personal hat-trick of awards after Yasin Ayari's blatant handball.

Isak coolly stepped forward to roll home his 23rd Premier League goal of the season - the most by a Newcastle player in a single campaign since Alan Shearer hit that total in 2001-02 - to see Toon draw in the Premier League for the first time in 21 games.

"He has that ruthless mentality to score those goals," said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. "It was a brilliant penalty at a big moment. We needed something from the game. He is an outstanding finisher."

But Toon failed to leapfrog Manchester City into third place and have still to win at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League after Minteh had given Brighton the 28th-minute lead.