Newcastle United vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from St. James' Park
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
Guimaraes is down again, and this time, it looks like he's struggling with cramp. He's back to his feet before the physio can reach him, but Newcastle aren't going to risk him.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
CHANCE! Jensen's long throw-in is touched back out to him by Pinnock, and he swings a cross into the far post for Wissa. He flicks it on but gets his angles wrong and it bounces wide.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Toney has scored all seven penalties he has taken in the Premier League, while only Yaya Toure (11/11) and Dimitar Berbatov (9/9) have a better 100 per cent record from the spot in the competition's history.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Fourth change for Brentford now, and it's an attacking one that will also see them swap to a back four. Mee is taken off, with Damsgaard on in his place.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
The corner is taken short to Schar, whose long-range shot hits Jense before falling to Joelinton. Guimaraes helps it onto Longstaff, who tries to slide in Wilson, but JAnelt is tight to him.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
BLOCK! Longstaff's throughball cuts Brentford's defence open and Joelinton flicks it onto Willock on the edge of the box. He drags it around Ajer to get a better angle but Hickey slides in to block his shot.
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