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
MBUEMO SCORES! Longstaff is caught on the ball in midfield, and Mbuemo dropped deep to start the move. Baptiste threads it through to Mbuemo, and he fires his shot straight at Pope, and it bounces in off the goalkeeper's shin. VAR is having a look though...
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Newcastle are moving it upfield quickly when they win it back, but their final ball into the box is letting them down. Guimaraes ignores the fans' shouts to shoot, and tries to slide in Wilson, but hits it straight out of play.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
GOOD SAVE! It's a great ball from Willock out to Almiron on the right and he rounds Pinnock as he cuts inside to get to the edge of the box. He whips his cross towards the far top corner, but Raya stretches to tip it wide.
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