Newcastle saw their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship cut back to three points after being held to a goalless draw at Reading while Brighton ran out 2-0 winners at bottom club Rotherham.
Magpies frontman Daryl Murphy saw a header cleared off the line before Royals winger Garath McCleary almost snatched a dramatic stoppage-time winner, his effort hitting the top of the crossbar.
Brighton had lost their past two games, but returned to form at the New York Stadium.
Anthony Knockaert gave the Seagulls the lead four minutes into the second half, with substitute Solly March making sure of the points 11 minutes from time as Rotherham were pushed closer to League One.