Neave opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the latter stages of the first half, with Albion defender Charlie Penman sent off after committing a last-man foul on the Magpies forward, who then netted his and United's second goal on the stroke of half-time with a close-range scramble from Kyle Fitzgerald's cutback.
Despite the hosts' strong advantage, a slow opening to the second half ultimately denied United's second-string a third win in their last four league matches, with Nehemiah Oriola's strike in the opening minutes of the second half and Joe Belmont's close-range header seeing the spoils shared on Tyneside.
The Winlaton-born teenager, who made his professional debut during Newcastle's 6-1 win against Qarabağ FK in the UEFA Champions League, told newcastleunited.com: "The whole team is disappointed we haven't come away with the three points. We've got a lot of things to learn and we'll take it as a learning curve.
"I think we didn't start the second half better than what we should've. I feel like that's a reflection of the game. Once their second goal went in, that's when we reacted and thought we need to play here but that's killed us a little bit. We take it as a learning curve and move on.
"The squad's goal is to get in the play-offs so I feel if all of the team can push towards that and all stick together, getting results and there's a few games where I think we can get some points out of the games, hopefully we finish strong in the league and get into the play-offs."
Following his brace against their Seagulls counterparts, Neave took his goalscoring tally to 12 at under-21 level and was unfortunate not to grab a second hat-trick of the 2025/26 season after his first-half treble against Boston United in October's National League Cup Group D clash.
Named in 17 senior matchday squads so far this term, Neave admitted his experiences with the Magpies' first team has benefited his own game when featuring for United's second-string, with the England Under-18 international netting five goals in his last four Premier League 2 fixtures.
The 18-year-old added: "The first two goals speak for themself. I won a penalty and then the second goal's a little bit of luck but a goal's a goal. I had a few chances in the second half and I'm a bit frustrated I didn't get the hat-trick but I played my contribution and that's all I'm here for.
"I've been in and around the first team environment a bit more this season but it has really helped me come along. I think I've matured as a player and I feel like I've took the learning curves up there and brought them down to the under-21s.
"When I come to under-21s, I keep my level the same as I do with the first team. I don't let my standards don't drop. I've been working really hard off the pitch, in the gym and match strength. I've got a lot stronger as a player and can deal with my man a bit better than what I used to.
"Getting to that next level, all of the players are going to be a lot stronger and bigger in the under-21s so I need that experience with the under-21s playing against those players."
