Having been turned away from a “sports bar” in Valencia because my driver’s licence was insufficient ID (that venue, called Luckia, was more a gaming den than a football venue) I missed the first 20 minutes.
A far friendlier cafe in the Avenida des Port rescued me from purgatory just in time to see Botman’s deft/glancing/mistimed (delete where applicable) header bounce down and up into the roof of the Brentford net after a series of corners.
Wissa had a close-range shot from another corner shinned off the line as we went in search of a second.
There was nothing fortunate about the equaliser from Janelt, totally free eight yards out to meet a left-wing cross. His powerful header gave Pope no chance.
Jacob Murphy was in the right place to block a goalbound shot as Brentford pulled us apart again with a quick break. Sadly for Newcastle, the ball hit his arm, he was booked and Thiago coolly tucked away the penalty after the inevitable VAR delay.
Thoughts that I would have been luckier to stay at the Luckia.
A header by Botman and a penalty from Bruno G were not enough in a match that again saw Newcastle waste opportunities to take three points or even one.
One-nil up became 2-1 down by half-time as Brentford cut through our midfield and defence with alarming ease. Most of Newcastle’s attacks were down our left flank, while the visitors seemed to find space almost everywhere in the final 15 minutes before the interval.
Eddie Howe brought on Woltemade and Elanga for Jacob Murphy and Willock on 46 minutes. The changes gave us some much-needed momentum on the right but no breakthrough, despite a VAR check for a handball in the penalty box and a Barnes header that bounced narrowly wide of the far post.
Ex-Mackem Henderson departed on 55 minutes and Brentford regained their attacking intent in a game that was high on energy but low on control. Passes were overhit, underhit or misplaced by the hosts far too often.
On 64 minutes Osula replaced Wissa, as the search continued for an attacking player able to score.
Thiaw and Botman, tellingly, went closest in the next few minutes.
Thiago threw his considerable weight around and was eventually booked.
The play was mainly in Brentford’s half. When they did win a corner, we broke quickly, Osula put in Elanga on the right and Bruno G was tripped as he tried to reach the precise low cross. Why the ref took five minutes to see it and needed help from the VAR, was the biggest mystery since Agatha Christie vanished.
Brentford were wasting time but still looked dangerous on the break. And so it proved when Ouattara nutmegged Pope on 85 minutes to put them ahead again.
Ramsey and Burn replaced Tonali and Trippier. The right-back had struggled in defence all evening and Tonali was again well below his best.
More tactical fouls and crass refereeing prevented any momentum in stoppage time. The game was up, in more ways than one. Only four efforts on target, with Thiaw’s second-half shot producing the one notable save, were not enough.
Newcastle 2 Brentford 3 – Saturday 7 February 2026 5.30pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United :
Botman 24, Bruno pen 79
Brentford:
Janelt 37, Thiago 45+2 pen, Ouattara 85
Possession was Newcastle 54% Brentford 46%
Total shots were Newcastle 16 Brentford 11
Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Brentford 5
Corners were Newcastle 9 Brentford 3
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 24 Brentford 21
Newcastle team v Brentford:
Pope, Trippier (Burn 87), Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Tonali (Ramsey 87), Bruno, Willock (Elanga 46), Barnes, Jacob Murphy (Woltemade 46), Wissa (Osula 65)
Subs:
Ramsdale, Alex Murphy, Neave, Shahar