Newcastle 2 Brentford 3 – Saturday 7 February 2026 5.30pm
Instant fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.
Nat Seaton:
‘Beaten by a team who looked fitter and faster on the day.
Every time Brentford broke forward it looked like they could score.
There is no letting up this season, straight back to it on Tuesday night, let’s hope for an improved away performance and regain some confidence to take into Villa and Qarabag.’
Billy Miller:
‘For the first time I am genuinely worried for our Premier League season.
We’ve floated around midtable a lot this campaign but have always been a win or two from 4th or 5th.
We finish today 11 points off 4th spot and 6 points below our conquerors in 7th.
We looked completely devoid of confidence in the first half. The poor penalty decision didn’t help but then I thought we got away with the first one.
Looked better in the second half but even when we were level I feared the worst.
Shocking defensive shape to concede the decider.
This was a must win when you look at our upcoming fixtures and we didn’t do anywhere near enough.
It’s the battle of the underachievers on Tuesday.’
GToon:
‘That was embarrassing. This is no longer becoming an instant reaction, instead it’s a constant reaction.
This team through lack of investment at the appropriate time and lack of tactical intelligence from the manager are now becoming a waste of time.
I really don’t care how we do against carrier bag.
That is a money spinner in a cup we won’t win.
The league is the main focus and always must be and this season we have been dreadful, bar the odd game.
The money spent on forwards has been chucked down the drain. Wissa is hopeless and BNW not a CF.
Meanwhile. at the other end Pope still tries to save shots with his legs rather than his hands.
Tbh what’s the point.
There needs to be a major clear out in the summer from top to bottom.
If we want to go to the next level, it’s a level half the team and the manager can’t reach.’
Matt Busby said…:
‘Abject.
We scored against the run of play and instead of capitalising, lost our way.
At 2-2 we had a foothold in the game but still conspired to lose.
We are a team that are lacking in confidence, conceding far too many soft goals and running on empty.
I said when we lost to Everton and still qualified for the Champions League, that I’d rather have been in one of those lesser UEFA competitions, the Champions League has become an albatross around our necks.
Spurs is huge on Tuesday, for both clubs.’
David Punton:
‘The slump goes on. Are we on the slide?
Following Newcastle United you always have to take the rough with the smooth.
Here we chalked up another defeat in a five-goal thriller, with the Londoners striking late on the snatch all three points.
Midweek felt like something from the Ashley era and this was a bit of a throwback too.
It’s become a hard slog where once there was progress.’
Tony Mallabar:
‘Am currently doing my pre Baku detox, so no pre match light sherries for me for a while.
But sweet baby Jesus and the orphans. That gubbins served up tonight was enough to make any man fall off the wagon.
As a fan, it’s pointless for me to start twisting on about x, y and z players.
Now being into year 5 of the “programme”…getting the double done over us by Brentford, probably wasn’t where we all expected to be.
Am I frustrated? YES.
Will I be at Tottenham on Tuesday? Hell YES.’
Greg McPeake:
‘Are Brentford a premier league club?
They beat us tonight with some dodgy VAR and then controlled the minutes the inept referee gave.
Brentford is a rubbish club in my opinion, pandering to the so-called big clubs with their genuflecting and grovelling.
Good luck to the sad Brentford fans who are happy to have a win tonight at a big club but will never be competing in real terms.
The sooner we get rid of Burnley, Bournemouth, Brentford from the prem the better.’
Jamie Smith:
‘Really sickened by this one.
I’m just too tired of a counter attack finding us out, despite better possession and more chances etc.
This league season feels utterly done and the campaign rests on a Hail Mary in the FA Cup at Villa.
All issues lead back to last summer but there has been a terrible regression that needs looked at.’
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