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
It's a wonderful throughball for Henry to chase down the left and he pulls it back from the byline. It's behind Toney, but Mbuemo is following in and Guimaraes slides in with an important interception.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Newcastle get us back underway for the second half!
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Substitution Pelenda Joshua Tunga Dasilva Vitaly Janelt
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Howe will be pleased with his side's performance so far; they showed a good threat going forward and have barely let Brentford have a sniff at goal. Thomas Frank will be expecting much more from his side though. They looked shaky after their goal was disallowed and they need to cut out some of the sloppiness if they want to cause some problems.
Newcastle United vs Brentford
Newcastle are in control at the break, with a 2-0 lead over Brentford. The visitors thought they'd taken the lead just 10 minutes in when Mbuemo's shot deflected in off Pope, but VAR intervened as Toney disrupted play from an offside position. Guimaraes did break the deadlock with a stooping header, and they got their second after Raya gifted the ball to Wilson, and he picked out Murphy for a tap-in.
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