7 December 2024
Brentford 4 Newcastle 2
Brentford still have one of the most impressive home records in the Premier League this season. Nearly all of their points have come at the Gtech Community Stadium. On the back of an impressive draw against leaders Liverpool, Newcastle travelled to the capital looking to change that. The only thing you could guarantee when The Bees are home, plenty of goals.
It was 76 years since Brentford last beat Newcastle at home. In the Premier League, The Magpies had never lost against this opposition. It made for an intriguing encounter as something had to give in the capital. Newcastle took some confidence from their performance against Liverpool and started this match on the front foot.
As they passed the ball around, it found its way to Longstaff, just outside the box. He hit a rasping shot towards goal which cracked against the crossbar and came back into play. It was a real sign of intent from Eddie Howe’s side. They came to West London looking for a win and were going to make this a difficult afternoon for the hosts.
Brentford just seem to click at home currently. As a Newcastle attack broke down, their transition from defence to attack was seamless. Suddenly, the ball was at the feet of Mbuemo out wide. He went on a mazy run into the box before clipping a left-footed shot into the top corner of the goal. It was a superb finish from The Bees’ playmaker.
Questions will be asked by Eddie Howe how he was able to just walk through four of his players in the box. The Magpies looked to find a way back into the game immediately. Murphy seemed to be looking to shoot but his effort was headed home by Isak on the edge of the six yard box. The Swede showed some great reactions to pounce upon the opportunity.
Isak then dispossessed a defender out on the touchline. He made a beeline for goal, skilfully taking the ball around Flekken. Just as he was about to slot it into the back of the net, the Brentford keeper got a hand in to whip the ball away from his feet. It was brilliant goalkeeping and left the Newcastle striker with his head in his hands, wondering what had just happened.
Barnes then gifted the ball to Wissa with a stray pass inside his own half. He ran towards goal with Schar just backing off him. As he got into the box, he slotted into the top corner leaving Pope with no chance of keeping it out. Newcastle had been the architects of their own downfall here. Howe would have some harsh words for his team at the interval no doubt.
It took all of four minutes for the visitors to find a reply. The cross into Barnes in space allowed him to shift it onto his right foot and get a shot off at goal. His effort beat Flekken and nestled into the far corner to draw The Magpies level again. The Newcastle winger had made amends for his part in Wissa’s goal moments earlier.
Barnes started to cause problems for Brentford with his pace and skill. He got down the left flank and clipped an inch-perfect cross into the back post to find Murphy. Sadly for the visitors, he just could not keep his header down as it sailed over the bar. It was a big chance for Howe’s side to turn this game on its head, before they had to feel his wrath in the changing rooms.
The first half ended all square but The Magpies had dominated the half. Whatever Thomas Frank said to his team worked as they put the visitors under pressure from the kick-off. Wissa looked to get a shot off at goal and it hit the arm of Pope as the ball seemed to be squeezing underneath him. It hit the inside of the post and came back out. Big let off for Newcastle.
A long ball downfield from Flekken beat everyone as it landed at the feet of Collins in the box. He slotted it past Pope with the finishing of a striker and not a defender. Brentford were ahead again and Newcastle were struggling to deal with their attacking threat. The Gtech Community Stadium erupted as the ball ended up in the back of the net.
This game was finely poised with the hosts just having a one-goal lead. The visitors huffed and puffed, launching balls into the box. Isak then lifted a cross to the back post from the byline. Tonali was making a run into the danger area but headed clean over the bar. He really should have been hitting the target at the very least from there.
Howe’s side looked completely different after the interval. It was almost as if they had forgotten how to create chances. Brentford were finding it all too easy to keep them out. Frank’s side looked dangerous on the break and the more players Newcastle threw forward, the more open they looked to those counter-attacks.
Tonali lost the ball in the middle and some slick passing saw it find Mbuemo outside the box. He showed great vision to thread it through the defence for Schade to deftly lift it over Pope to secure victory for Brentford. It looked as though their impressive home record was going to continue. Moments later they almost added another as Pope lost the ball way outside his box.
Mbuemo looked to pass the ball into the empty net from some way out but Burn got back and managed to slide in to clear it off the line. The Bees took all three points and questions will continue to be asked of Newcastle. They do not seem to be evolving under their manager anymore and you wonder when the patience of the owners will break and they take swift action.
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