Brentford 1-2 Newcastle United: Alexander Isak winner boosts visitors’ Champions League hopes
Isak #Isak
Alexander Isak’s eighth Premier League goal of the season gave Newcastle a fifth win in a row
Alexander Isak scored a superb winner as Newcastle came from behind to beat Brentford and strengthen their position in the Premier League’s top four.
After Joelinton’s ball across the face of goal was diverted into the net by Brentford goalkeeper David Raya to level the scores after 54 minutes, Eddie Howe’s side got the decisive goal seven minutes later when Isak curled his first-time shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Brentford had enjoyed the better of the first half and went in front on the stroke of half-time through Ivan Toney’s penalty, awarded after the video assistant referee (VAR) spotted a foul from Isak on Rico Henry at a corner.
Toney, who also had a goal disallowed for offside, had missed the chance to put Thomas Frank’s side ahead earlier in the half after Kevin Schade burst past Fabian Schar and was brought down inside the box by Sven Botman’s clumsy challenge.
However, having scored his previous 10 Premier League spot-kicks, Toney had his tame effort saved by Newcastle keeper Nick Pope.
Newcastle were vastly improved in the second half after bringing on Anthony Gordon and Callum Wilson at the break and the latter, who set up the second goal for Isak, thought he had scored the third, only for VAR to get involved again and rule it out for a handball by the striker.
The home side found a second wind after being pegged back for much of the half and pressed for an equaliser late on. Toney came closest but saw one header parried away by Pope and a second drop just over the bar in stoppage time.
Newcastle have won five consecutive league games and are back to third, three points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham in the battle for Champions League qualification, while Brentford drop to ninth, albeit just four points off sixth.
Isak provides finishing touch to Newcastle comeback
Newcastle failed to muster a single shot on target in a lacklustre first-half display, and having been punished following the concession of two penalties before the break their winning run was under serious threat.
Whatever Howe said at half-time clearly worked though, as Newcastle came out with the energy and intensity so lacking in the first 45 minutes.
They moved the ball quicker, with more purpose and while Raya was unfortunate that Joelinton’s square ball ricocheted off his heel and into his own net, the goal had been coming.
As Newcastle grew in the game, so too did Isak. After a quiet first half he was freed up by the introduction of Wilson and found himself in dangerous positions to stretch the home defence.
As much as his intelligent movement, Isak’s finishing has stood out since moving to St James’ Park – and it was in evidence again.
Wilson rolled the ball to him on the edge of the area and the cleanly struck, curling strike was in the moment it left his boot.
Newcastle have already exceeded expectations this season, and with nine games to go they are the team with momentum in the Champions League race.
With the strength of mentality they showed to fight back in the second half, combined with the quality of the likes of Isak, they look set to book their place in Europe’s premier competition next season.
More to follow.
Player of the match
IsakAlexander Isak
Brentford
Squad number2Player nameHickey
Squad number17Player nameToney
Squad number9Player nameSchade
Squad number18Player nameJansson
Squad number16Player nameMee
Squad number3Player nameHenry
Squad number5Player namePinnock
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Squad number13Player nameM Jorgensen
Squad number1Player nameRaya
Squad number8Player nameJensen
Squad number10Player nameDasilva
Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Squad number11Player nameWissa
Newcastle United
Squad number14Player nameIsak
Squad number9Player nameWilson
Squad number7Player nameJoelinton
Squad number22Player namePope
Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
Squad number8Player nameGordon
Squad number2Player nameTrippier
Squad number32Player nameAnderson
Squad number28Player nameWillock
Squad number5Player nameSchär
Squad number4Player nameBotman
Squad number33Player nameBurn
Squad number6Player nameLascelles
Squad number23Player nameMurphy
Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Squad number11Player nameRitchie
Line-upsBrentford
Formation 5-3-2
1Raya
2Hickey18Jansson5Pinnock16Mee3Henry
10Dasilva6Nørgaard8Jensen
17Toney9Schade
Substitutes
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
22Pope
2Trippier5Schär4Botman33Burn
36S Longstaff39Bruno Guimarães28Willock
23Murphy14Isak7Joelinton
Substitutes
Referee:Chris Kavanagh
Attendance:17,107
Live Text
Match ends, Brentford 1, Newcastle United 2.
Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Newcastle United 2.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Matt Ritchie replaces Anthony Gordon.
Attempt missed. Ivan Toney (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Mathias Jensen with a cross.
Foul by Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United).
Rico Henry (Brentford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt saved. Elliot Anderson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum Wilson.
Attempt missed. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Bruno Guimarães following a fast break.
Attempt saved. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) left footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford).
Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ethan Pinnock with a headed pass.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Elliot Anderson replaces Joe Willock.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Jamaal Lascelles replaces Alexander Isak.
Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution, Brentford. Yoane Wissa replaces Ben Mee.
Substitution, Brentford. Vitaly Janelt replaces Christian Nørgaard.
Attempt missed. Ben Mee (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bryan Mbeumo with a headed pass.
Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mathias Jensen with a cross.
