Championship promotion-hopefuls Newcastle visit league leaders Brighton this evening (7.45pm kick-off) knowing that victory would see them soar ahead of the Seagulls at the summit.

Rafa Benitez’s men could only muster a 2-2 draw at home to struggling Bristol City on Saturday, and coupled with Brighton’s comfortable 3-0 win over Reading a few hours later, it saw the Magpies slip to second in the table, a point behind this evening’s opponents.

However, with both Brighton and Newcastle swapping positions over the course of the campaign, it remains to be seen who will go on and win the league, although this evening’s clash at the AMEX Stadium will go some way to determining that.

Benitez’s men are unbeaten in their last eight league matches, dating back to January 2, and have the best away record in the division, having taken 35 points from their 16 games this term, of which they have won 11.

Yet, Chris Hughton’s Brighton have the best home record in the league and have lost just twice since the start of September, so getting a result at the AMEX Stadium tonight is going to be a tough ask for Benitez and his team.

So, with the build-up well underway ahead of tonight’s encounter, here are THREE reasons why Newcastle will get the victory at the AMEX Stadium this evening…

Unbeaten in last eight

Newcastle have lost just once in the Championship since the turn of the year, and that came all the way back on January 2 away at relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers.

Since then though, the Magpies have won five and drawn three of their eight league games, including an impressive away win at Brentford, as well as home successes over Rotherham, Derby, and Aston Villa.

They showed their battling qualities on Saturday to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Bristol City at St James’ Park, and they’ll look to take that momentum from their second half showing, and indeed from their eight-game unbeaten run, to the AMEX Stadium this evening.

Best away record in league

Brighton may have the best home record in the Championship this season, but no side has picked up more points on their travels that Newcastle this term.

The Magpies have won 11 of their 16 matches away from St James’ Park thus far, with only Fulham, Nottingham Forest, and Blackburn beating Benitez’s men, while fellow relegated sides Aston Villa and Norwich have picked up valuable draws against the North East giants.

Other than that though, Newcastle have been sensational away from home, with Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham the only side in the top half to beat Benitez’s side this term away from St James’ Park.

Although they still have to play the likes of Huddersfield, Reading, and Sheffield Wednesday on their travels, the Magpies will take great confidence from their excellent away record to the AMEX Stadium this evening.

Need win ahead of integral few weeks

The next seven days could ultimately determine Newcastle’s season.

They of course face Brighton this evening, but then they travel to Huddersfield on Saturday, to the Madejski Stadium to face Reading a week today, and then they host play-off contenders Fulham on March 11.

That’s first, third, fifth, and seventh all coming face-to-face with Benitez’s men over the coming weeks, so it’s absolutely essential that they take some momentum into those fixtures, starting with a strong result and performance at the AMEX Stadium this evening.