Newcastle United’s poor run of form continued on Saturday evening against Brentford. The Bees ran out 3-2 winners of a highly entertaining affair at St James’ Park, though Eddie Howe's side will be disappointed to end up on the wrong side of the result.
They have now won just once in their last eight games.
Howe
It was the home side who took an early lead, thanks to a header from Sven Botman.
On his 100th appearance for the North East giants, the Dutch defender headed home Bruno Guimaraes’ corner to fire his side ahead.
However, Brentford kept pushing and scored twice before the half-time whistle blew, to go in at half-time 2-1 up. First, Vitaly Janelt headed home after a wonderful ball from Dango Ouattara, before Igor Thiago converted from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.
The Magpies managed to equalise, from a penalty themselves, after a long VAR check. It was the captain, Guimaraes, who tucked the ball home, but Brentford were not done there. Ouattara scored in the 85th minute to sink Howe’s side and pick up all three points.
It was a day to forget for Newcastle, with Yoane Wissa, someone who particularly struggled.
Wissa’s stats vs. Brentford
It was not the performance Wissa would have been hoping for against his former club. The DR Congo striker has not really hit the ground running at St James’ Park after struggling with injury, and the game against Brentford was no different.
Y Wissa
Given the nod from the start by Howe, Wissa was largely anonymous, struggling to make an impact or be a real focal point for the Magpies’ attack, although he did have a chance cleared off the line. He only lasted 65 minutes before being replaced by William Osula.
Indeed, the numbers from Wissa’s performance reflect just how much of a disappointing night it was. The Newcastle number nine only managed 17 touches of the ball in just over an hour, and registered just one shot. He struggled off the ball, too, winning one duel.
Wissa
One person who noticed just how much of a struggle it was for the striker was Shields Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr.
He gave the number nine a 3/10 for his efforts, explaining that he showed a 'concerning lack of quality' and 'ultimately offered very little' against the West Londoners, a poor return from one of Newcastle's highest earners.
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As poor as Wissa was, there was a Magpies player who was arguably worse.
Newcastle’s worst player vs. Brentford
It was a night to forget for experienced Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier. The former England international looked all at sea against the Bees.
He struggled defensively all night long, and, within seconds, almost conceded a penalty which was ultimately deemed not a foul.
Trippier
Like Wissa, he was given a 3/10 rating for his performance by Scurr. The journalist criticised him for a poor hand in all three Brentford goals, explaining that he 'didn’t cover himself in glory' at St James’ Park.
His numbers from the game show how much of a poor evening’s work it was, too. Trippier had 70 touches but lost the ball 13 times, and completed only two from an attempted five crosses.
He was dribbled past twice and won four from ten duels.
Trippier key stats vs. Brentford
Stat
Touches
Passes completed
Number of times ball lost
Ground duels won
Aerial duels won
Crosses completed
Number of times dribbled past
Stats from Sofascore
There are huge question marks over the future of Howe, though he himself said he’s surprised by the talks of an exit.
Yet, with their form as poor as it is, Newcastle might well decide to jump ship before they sink under the current manager.
Picking Trippier is only going to add fuel to the fire. The Magpies are without first-choice right-back options Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley, but pitting a struggling Trippier against a lively Brentford front-line was always going to be a recipe for disaster.
K Trippier
After such a poor performance from the Newcastle number two, it would be a surprise to see Howe start him again, especially with so much on the line for the Englishman.
Teenager Leo Shahar is an option and was in the squad on Saturday night, so it would not be a surprise to see him come into the side instead.
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