Newcastle United handed manager Eddie Howe a timely boost as they returned to winning ways against Brighton.

Although the head coach felt the support of those above him at the club's annual summit at Matfen Hall in Northumberland this week, he also faced some "difficult questions" following a torrid run of nine defeats in 12 in the league.

Howe needed a victory and, with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and minority owner Jamie Reuben both watching on from the directors' box, his side delivered against in-form Brighton.

Newcastle were given a helping hand for their opener to settle one or two nerves after Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen rushed out of his goal to close down Jacob Murphy down the right.

Verbruggen clipped Murphy, in the process, but the forward quickly got back to his feet to cross the ball into the box for team-mate William Osula to head into an empty net.

The hosts doubled their lead midway through the first half when Burn nodded home from Bruno Guimaraes' corner kick.

However, this Brighton side had not previously tasted defeat since 4 March for a reason, and they came roaring back.

Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope looked a little relieved to see the ball cannon off the post after Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood blocked his attempted clearance in the first half.

Hinshelwood found a way through in the second half, though, after playing a smart one-two with Danny Welbeck, before finishing expertly past Pope from inside the box.

Newcastle have thrown away the most points (25) from winning positions in the Premier League this season, but they managed to hold out this time after Pope made a fine save late on to keep out substitute Charalampos Kostoulas' overhead kick.

Harvey Barnes sealed the victory in stoppage time with a powerful finish as Howe and his staff celebrated wildly on the touchline after ending a run of five successive defeats in all competitions.

Newcastle, in the process, climbed to 13th while Brighton slipped to seventh.

This was an afternoon when Howe's big calls paid off when he needed them most.

The head coach justifiably kept faith with the bulk of players who put in an improved performance in a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal last week.

Having again decided to name £124m worth of forwards on the bench, in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, Osula repaid the faith of his manager once more with the opener.

Burn, meanwhile, who was preferred to Lewis Hall, doubled his side's lead against his former club.

It felt like Newcastle were in a commanding position, after taking a rare two-goal lead, as the confidence flowed through the team.

But how would they respond when Hinshelwood pulled one back? Were Newcastle about to squander another victory?

Howe made a triple change in an attempt to prevent just that as he threw on Hall, Barnes and Yoane Wissa and changed system.

Newcastle had to ride out a nervy period, but those changes eventually paid off when Wissa was denied by Verbruggen and the ball fell to Barnes, who lashed it into the net.

It was clear how much that goal meant to Howe, who was mobbed by assistants Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones on the touchline.

They have to build on it.

Brighton players and staff felt an unfamiliar emotion at full-time. This side had forgotten how to lose, having beaten Chelsea, Liverpool, Sunderland and Burnley in recent weeks and drawn against Tottenham Hotspur.

But manager Fabian Hurzeler will still take a lot of heart from this display.

The Brighton boss handed his players five days off following their impressive 3-0 win against Chelsea last time out.

It was a recognition of how much they had given him and, also, how much trust he had in them to go "all in for the final part of the season" and "give everything for this badge" as he told them when he delivered the news in the dressing room.

They certainly did that at St James' Park and Hurzeler will take a lot of heart from his side's response to going 2-0 down.

They refused to go under and set up a nervy finish at St James' Park after Hinshelwood pulled one back.

Yankuba Minteh even had a glorious opportunity to make it 2-2 against his former club, only to blaze over from close range as Hurzeler dropped to his knees.

Newcastle travel to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday 10 May (14:00 BST) before hosting West Ham at St James' Park on Sunday 17 May (17:30 BST).

Brighton welcome Wolves to the Amex Stadium on Saturday 9 May (15:00 BST) before a trip to Elland Road to play Leeds United on Sunday 17 May (15:00 BST)