Newcastle 2-1 Brentford
by Roger Domeneghetti
at St James Park

NEWCASTLE made heavy weather of their first day back at the office since their cup-winning heroics.

A Sandro Tonali wondergoal sealed three important points for a team with Champions League aspirations, but at times they looked like they were nursing a collective hangover; all sore heads and bleary eyes.

The XI that started the historic League Cup final some two-and-a-half weeks ago, started this game. The team essentially picking itself, after all, why fix something that isn’t broken?

As might have been expected, they dominated the early exchanges. Alexander Isak (twice), Joelinton and Jacob Murphy all went close, but none tested Mark Flekken.

After 20 minutes, Brentford were 3-0 up on corners. Yet, they had not turned up just to make the numbers and repeatedly posed a threat.

Just before the break, Newcastle had the ball in the back of the net twice. First, Harvey Barnes headed home only to see his effort disallowed for offside, after Isak dithered uncharacteristically.

A minute later, the Swede made amends. Newcastle swept across the pitch from Tino Livramento on the left, via Bruno Guimaraes in the middle to Murphy on the right. He galloped into space, sending over a perfect cross for Isak, who swept the ball home.

On balance, Newcastle had just about shaded the first 45, but it was tough on Brentford. Thomas Frank’s team had won their last five away League games, and it was no great surprise when they equalised mid-way through the second half.

Nick Pope came out to meet a through ball from Bryan Mbeumo but flapped at it allowing Yoane Wissa to get there first. The Brentford man went down under the keeper’s challenge, and after a brief VAR check, Mbeumo slotted home the resulting penalty.

Brentford were suddenly the team on top, Newcastle were rocking on their heels. The visitors were pressing and probing, their hosts struggling.

Ethan Pinnock’s header rebounded off the inside of the post into the grateful arms of Pope. Fabian Schar received a booking for a clumsy challenge on Wissa.

Then, out of nothing came the winner. Tonali, almost at the corner flag, riffling the ball into the roof of the net at the near post.

Initially, it looked like a cross that had crept in, but replays suggest Tonali knew exactly what he was doing; that he had seen Flekken come off his line in anticipation of a cross and taken advantage.