Albion are celebrating their first clean sheet since April Fool’s Day at their Amex fortress.

The Seagulls preserved the lead provided by Tomer Hemed after Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez threw on Jonjo Shelvey and Dwight Gayle.

Albion had a formidable home record in the Championship and have now won their last two in the Premier League - but they had not shut out the opposition since beating Blackburn, also 1-0, on April 1 on their way to promotion.

Manager Chris Hughton said: “I’m very pleased with the manner of the win. Once we got the goal it’s very difficult. You either press the game and leave spaces or try to make it compact, which allows them a fair amount of ball, particularly when Shelvey comes on.

“We had to defend well and we did. It was a good performance overall, particularly at the start of the game.

“You want to start well at home. I thought we did. They were very good on the counter-attack and looked very threatening.”

Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan made an early save from a Mikel Merino volley and from sub Dwight Gayle late-on, when the defenders in front of him made some key blocks and clearances.

Hughton added of the clean sheet: “It’s important, but we are very realistic, it’s more difficult. You are playing against better teams and you have got to dig deeper. You have got to be resolute and it’s hard to do it for 90 minutes.”