Eddie Howe described Newcastle United's performance at Brighton as "hard to watch" as they lost 2-1 at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

Newcastle had won their previous two matches across the Champions League and Premier League prior to the international break, but that momentum was lost as Danny Welbeck scored twice for Brighton.

Welbeck's first goal came late in a first half in which Newcastle rarely threatened in attack and were poor in possession, with Nick Pope making one smart stop from Georginio Rutter before the two Brighton forwards combined for the opener.

The Magpies were much better after the break, finishing with more shots (16), a higher xG (1.4) and a greater share of possession (54.1%) than their opponents, but Nick Woltemade's inspired equaliser was not enough for a point as Welbeck then netted again.

"We are disappointed with the first-half performance, really," Howe told BBC Match of the Day. "We faded, and the last half an hour was hard to watch.

"Brighton scored in that period. We were pleased to get in at 1-0 and regroup."

That involved a double change at the break, with Anthony Elanga and Joelinton replaced. Lewis Miley, on in place of the ineffective Joelinton, assisted Woltemade's goal.

"They are brilliant players, but they didn't function well today," Howe added of his starting midfielders. "But then I don't think the team did."

Woltemade added his team "didn't have good energy" in the first half, but there were at least positives to take from the second 45, even with Welbeck striking a late winner.

"In the first half, we didn't do good," Woltemade said. "The second half was good energy in the game. We scored one goal, and it felt like we would win.

"But they played good and scored. That's football sometimes. The second half was way better than the first."

Despite Newcastle's improvement, Brighton boss Fabian Herzeler, who credited Woltemade for "an unbelievable goal", was confident in his own side's ability to secure a result before Welbeck delivered.

"I never thought we would lose it, so I have the biggest belief in my team," he told BBC Match of the Day. "We showed resilience, character and personality."