Newcastle United vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
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Newcastle United have had worse anniversaries. A club with designs on setting up residence in the top six marked a year of new ownership by scoring five goals and surging into the European places. It may only be temporary, as others have games in hand, but the more pertinent statistic is that Newcastle have the sixth most points in the last 12 months. If that is testament to the difference Eddie Howe has made, his biggest win in charge was garnished by Bruno Guimaraes, who struck twice in a star turn.
Investment has brought improvement and Guimaraes continues to look a fine use of £40 million. In a heady year on Tyneside, much of a £200 million outlay has been spent disturbingly sensibly.
Progress feels a consequence, along with Howe’s capacity to blend the imported with the inherited, and Newcastle celebrated a year under the auspices of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – or, according to interpretation, a year without Mike Ashley – with the sort of scoreline that would have felt impossible at this stage in 2021, when they were winless, but which does not now.
United had drawn their previous three at St James’ Park but wins have nonetheless become normalised here: this was a ninth in 13 matches.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Murphy rounds Hickey down the left and whips a good cross into the box, but Wilson can't do anything with it. It runs to Trippier on the far side, who sees his cross blocked by Pinnock. There are shouts for handball, but his arm was tight to his side, and it's only a corner.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Trippier curls a deep corner into the far post and Longstaff's header is looping wide. Pinnock keeps it in, gifting the ball to Willock, who lays it off to Burn and he sees his shot blocked by Dasilva.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Another Brentford attack is cut out and Almiron drives down the left on the counter. He drifts past Hickey before drilling a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box, but Ajer sticks out a leg to block it just ahead of Wilson.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Brentford win a free-kick down the right and Jensen swings a good cross into the near post. Baptiste is just beaten to it by Burn, who flicks it on for Schar to clear behind him.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
NO GOAL! It originally looked like Toney had flicked the ball through to Mbuemo, but the replays showed he moved his foot out of the way just in time. He was standing in an offside position so the defender couldn't get past him, and it won't count. Still 0-0!
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