Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has admitted that his team were anxious in the latter stages of Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

Newcastle entered the clash off the back of three successive league victories, and were bidding to record back-to-back Premier League away wins for the first time since November 2014.

Brighton might have been pipped to the Championship table by Newcastle last season, but the Seagulls were victorious on Sunday courtesy of a second-half goal from Tomer Hemed.

Newcastle had a host of opportunities to make the breakthrough, however, and Benitez has admitted that a lack of experience in the top flight harmed his team in the latter stages.

Benitez told Sky Sports:

"We had three or four situations around the box where we were dangerous - (Christian) Atsu mis-controlled the last one, Joselu in the first half, the 'keeper saving the corner from (Jonjo) Shelvey - but we have to do this all the time, not just the last 20 minutes.

"We tried to have a little more control on the ball (towards the end) and it was fine. We are a team without a lot of experience in the Premier League, we didn't play well with the anxiety at the end and we have to manage these situations a little bit better."

Newcastle lost to Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town in their first two league games of the 2017-18 campaign, before beating West Ham United, Swansea City and Stoke City in succession.

The Magpies, who sit ninth in the Premier League table, will look to return to winning ways when they host Liverpool next Sunday afternoon.

https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/fm90sc-newcastle95.mp4