Newcastle United fans watched on as their team drew 3-3 with Liverpool.
A very good result but an even better performance, one that arguably left Newcastle deserving the win.
The eyes of Newcastle United fans now on Brentford this Saturday.
A far lower profile match but just as important as that one at St James’ Park against the league leaders.
Indeed, arguably more important, as with only three points separating fifth and twelfth, a victory for Eddie Howe’s side could really set them up. Especially with a match at home to Leicester the following Saturday.
However, I have now seen the entirely predictable comments from certain Newcastle United fans, how Eddie Howe’s team must be beating the ‘likes of Brentford.’
The clear inference is that it would be a massive failure if Newcastle can’t get a win away at Brentford.
This mentality meaning that even a draw would be seen as failure, apparently. At least by these Newcastle United fans.
It is so disrespectful to Brentford, this kind of mindset.
It is also just an unnecessary and unfair weight of expectation put on Eddie Howe and his players. Basically saying that a failure to win at Brentford would equal letter the Newcastle United fans down and other such nonsense.
Newcastle United are not playing the name, the entire history of Brentford FC, we are instead playing a very decent team under an excellent manager.
To put it into perspective, Brentford have collected 144 points in total, these three Premier League full seasons, since promotion. An average of 48 points per season.
Before Eddie Howe and the new owners came along, Newcastle United had only managed to collect 48 points in two seasons since the 2005/06 season. The 65 points in that one-off Ashley/Pardew fifth place finish of 2011/12, then 49 points in 2013/14.
For those Newcastle United fans who want to put this daft entitlement argument forward, that Eddie Howe’s team have to win on Saturday, or they’ve let us down, a few other inconvenient facts.
Brentford have the best home record of all Premier League clubs this season, with six wins, one draw and not a single defeat.
Brentford have scored more goals (22) at home than any other PL team this season, five more than the next highest.
In all competitions, Brentford have at home this season, played nine, won eight, drawn one and lost none.
I am for sure not saying Newcastle can’t win on Saturday.
What I am saying though, is that if Newcastle United do beat Brentford on their home turf, it will be a massive achievement. Whilst a draw would be a very good result, especially considering how well the Bees have performed at home.
Indeed, Brentford have now gone ten months with only one defeat at home.
That one defeat at home since mid-February 2024, was losing 4-2 to… Eddie Howe and Newcastle United in May.