Bruno Guimaraes challenges Yoane Wissa during Newcastle United's defeat at Brentford _(Image: John Walton/PA)_
BRUNO GUIMARAES branded [Newcastle United](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle)’s second-half performance at Brentford as “a mess”, and conceded that he and his team-mates have badly underperformed so far this season.
The Magpies headed into the interval at the Gtech Community Stadium on level terms after goals from Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes cancelled out efforts for Brentford from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.
But having matched their opponents in the first half, Newcastle fell out of the game dramatically after the interval, failing to record a meaningful effort on target and conceding two more goals as they crashed to a 4-2 defeat.
“In the first half, we had some good moments, but in the second half, we became a mess,” admitted Guimaraes, whose side remain in the bottom half of the table. “After the third goal, we lost our way, we lost control. We became a mess on the pitch, and we were very disappointed.
“After the last game against Liverpool, we arrived (at Brentford) expecting to play our best football. In the first half, I think we did some good stuff, but we have to stop conceding.
“We have conceded a lot this season and we can’t keep conceding as much as we have been. This is not a problem just for the defenders, it is a problem for the midfield and attack too. It is a team problem, and we have to stop this. To be honest, our season has been very disappointing.”
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A lack of consistency has become particularly problematic, with Newcastle having flopped at the weekend just three days after impressing in a 3-3 draw with league leaders Liverpool.
“We have not been consistent and we have to find that consistency,” said Guimaraes, in an interview with Newcastle's official website. “We have done well against teams in the top six, but, then when it has gone the other way, we have not been the same.
“We have to fix it. We cannot keep playing in the way we have been playing. You have to be consistent if you want to be in European football again.
“After the third goal, we gave the ball away many, many times and lost second balls a lot. We conceded another goal, but I think the third goal was the key moment because after that, we lost our control and our shape. Everything was a mess from my point of view.”