**Brentford 4-2 Newcastle United
by Layth Yousif
at Brentford Community Stadium**
THOMAS FRANK’S impressive Brentford side deservedly beat Newcastle United 4-2 on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon in west London.
The Bees sealed a thrilling victory over Eddie Howe’s underwhelming team to stay unbeaten at home in the Premier League, as they moved up to seventh spot, leaving the Magpies winless in four games.
There was warm applause on a cold afternoon for the late John Docherty from both sets of fans before proceedings kicked off.
With fixtures at Brentford averaging five goals a match, Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff cannoned the ball against Bees keeper Mark Flekken’s bar as early as the third minute to announce another exciting clash.
Five minutes later Brentford went 1-0 ahead through a cracking strike from Bryan Mbeumo, after the forward worked space to fire past Magpies keeper Nick Pope.
Within 180 seconds, Howe’s side had equalised to make it 1-1 through an excellent finish by striker Alexander Isak.
The coveted Isak should have scored again on 19 minutes after the Newcastle forward had done the hard part when forcing a mistake from defender Nathan Collins before racing through on goal. But the Magpies’ No 14 elected to walk the ball into the net as Bees keeper Flekken foiled him by scooping the ball away at the last moment to foil him, leaving Howe’s side to rue the missed opportunity.
In an open game, Bees No 18 Yehor Yarmoliuk fired over shortly afterwards prior to the visitors sweeping up the other end as Bruno Guimaraes drilled a low shot narrowly past Flekken’s right-hand post.
On 28 minutes Yoane Wissa fired home for 2-1, after picking up a slack ball from Magpies’ Harvey Barnes to put the Bees back in front.
The goal also had the effect of warming the home fans as temperatures dropped still further on a cold and windy afternoon at the stadium that is situated between the A4 flyover and the far more evocative Kew Bridge on the River Thames.
Shortly afterwards, the visitors equalised to make it 2-2 in a breathless opening half an hour or so.
Moments after giving the ball away for the Bees’ second goal, Barnes made amends by firing low into the far corner as the Magpies equalised for a second time after only 32 minutes.
Momentum swung as wildly as supporters flags around the ground, swirling as they did in the strong winds. Barnes staged a powerful run down the flank to set up Jacob Murphy in the box, but the Newcastle No 23 headed over when well-placed.
Amid ever-increasing storm conditions, the intensity of this enthralling clash remained after the break.
On 56 minutes Brentford made it 3-2, with an assist credited to Bees keeper Flekken — who, strangely, has made more saves than any other netminder in the division, yet, can count as many assists as last season’s Footballer of the Year, Phil Foden, has this term for Manchester City.
The goal came after Flekken launched the ball deep into Magpies territory. Fabian Schar should really have headed away the danger but didn’t, leaving Collins to tap the ball across Pope and low into the far corner of the net.
Stung, Newcastle’s England international Anthony Gordon fired over Flekken’s bar shortly afterwards as the visitors chased a third equaliser as temperatures dropped still further, as the powerful winds from Storm Darragh appeared to pick up still further on its way from the west.
In a relentlessly attacking match, the Bees were looking for a fourth when they should, like so many local residents, simply battened down the hatches, but Wissa forced a save from Pope with 20 minutes still to go, as the rain started to lash down once again.
It was Newcastle’s turn to nearly score an equaliser in the 83rd minute, but No 8 Sandro Tonali aimed his header over the bar after Isak’s exquisite touch to take the ball before crossing for the Italian.
It was a missed chance Howe’s side would once again rue, as despite their increasingly frenetic attempts to gain a foothold in the wild weather the Bees remained defiant.
As the clock ticked down, Kevin Schade lifted the ball over the onrushing Pope and into the net for 4-2, after latching onto a superb ball inside from Bryan Mbeumo to finally clinch a stirring victory at a wet and windswept west London on 90 minutes.
Speaking after the match, a delighted Frank said: “Very happy, it was a great performance in many ways.
“The way we performed today physically and with quality against a very good Newcastle side, I am very proud of my players.”
While dejected Newcastle boss Howe reflected on the defeat, as they sit in a disappointing 12th spot in the league after a fifth loss of the campaign, saying: “Really frustrating, we are really disappointed with the manner of goals we conceded.”