Newcastle 2-1 Brentford: Emotionally drained Mags find a way to move fifth!

A huge win in the context of our season as a  potentially hungover Newcastle United found a way to win…again.

We never hit top gear and, Wor Flags’ brilliant pre-match tribute aside, it felt like most inside St James’ Park came into tonight emotionally drained from events over the past few weeks.

Still, we had a big game in our push for a top five finish and standing in our way was a Brentford side who’d not lost an away game since our quarter-final Carabao Cup win in mid December.

It wasn’t pretty but that didn’t matter. Much like the 1-0 win at West Ham at the start of final week, it just felt huge to take all three points, with the victory sending us back up to fifth on a week where Bournemouth, Brighton and Fulham all lost.

Howe picked the same 11 heroes who won us the cup at Wembley in what was probably his easier team selection of the season, with Hall and Botman out and Gordon sitting out through suspension for the final time.

We looked good in the first five minutes with some confident one and two touch football, with Livramento creating a few half chances down our left as we pushed Brentford back.

However, it didn’t take long for us to suddenly look like a side managing a mini post-celebrations hangover, as we became sloppy on the ball, slow to 50-50s and sorely lacking in movement.

Trippier’s back post intervention was key to stop Schade tapping in Mbeumo’s cross, although we missed a massive chance to score before the break, as Isak did all the hard work only to set up Barnes in an offside position. But, that wouldn’t matter as Murphy’s cross found Isak in the only minute of first half stoppage time, allowing the Swede to tap in for his 20th of the season.

It wasn’t a great first half by any means, but that felt like a big goal to settle us down against a tough Brentford side who’d won each of their last five away games since the turn of the year.

We started the second half with a chance to make it two as the lively Barnes cut inside and dragged a shot wide at the second attempt, then Murphy also took too long to get his shot off after robbing Lewis-Potter in a good area.

Then, at the other end, a rush of blood from Pope gifted Brentford a penalty after Wissa was brought down. Mbeumo stepped up and sent Pope the wrong way to level things up.

In truth, we’d never been in control of the game and we’d let them back into it, forcing us to go again with just over 20 minutes to play. Yet, it was Brentford who nearly went ahead two minutes after Mbeumo’s leveller as Pinnock’s header hit the post.

Changes followed as Isak (tight groin) and Murphy made way - both combined for our first but neither were at it - for Wilson and Willock, seeing Barnes move out to the right, where he’d soon set up Tonali for one of the most incredible goals we’ll see the all season!

Was it a shot? Was it a cross? Who knows, but it turned out to be a moment of absolute genius as the Italian’s instinctive effort flew in past Flekken’s near post from a tight angle.

Brentford came back at us and had three big moments, as Damsgaard fired over under pressure from Burn, Schade had a shot blocked by Pope’s legs and Norgaard’s  stoppage time header was thankfully weak and too close to the keeper.

A huge win that sends us above Chelsea and keeps the momentum going ahead of Monday’s trip to Leicester.

Howay the lads!