Dan Burn turns air blue as Newcastle United's need for January reboot abundantly clear

Newcastle United took the spirit of the festive season too far against Brentford by handing them four gift-wrapped goals.

Eddie Howe's side did not have an answer against Thomas Frank's men as the Bees carefully probed United and exposed the holes in their defence. Despite showing some fight in the first half, the second half was a non-event offensively despite throwing on Callum Wilson, Anthony Gordon and Miguel Almiron.

And with Newcastle chasing an equaliser the introduction of 34-year-old retired England defender Kieran Trippier left many fans baffled with William Osula an unused substitute. As the players and staff made their way over to the away end, on a bitterly cold day of travel chaos, many Toon fans had made an early exit after backing the team for the majority of the afternoon.

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The game kicked off in plummeting conditions with winds battering the Gtech Community Stadium, a far cry from the encounter between these two sides in May which took place in t-shirt and shorts weather on the final game of the season. Notably, United's line-up did not include one single summer signing for the Magpies.

Despite the freezing London environment, Newcastle made a good start to the game with Sean Longstaff striking the crossbar in the second minute. But Brentford grabbed the lead on eight minutes as Bryan Mbeumo latched on to a superb long pass from Christian Norgaard before skipping past Lewis Hall then muscling his way through Joelinton and Fabian Schar.

The Cameroon international then left Nick Pope rooted to the spot. However, United did not let their heads drop for long as Alexander Isak's diving header tied the game up just three minutes later.

Longstaff nodded the ball to Isak down the left before Isak turned his man and rolled the ball to Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian star then passed to Jacob Murphy who sent in a cross for Isak to head home from close range.

Isak should have put Newcastle further ahead on 19 minutes when he won the ball from Nathan Collins on the right-hand side before advancing towards keeper Mark Flekken. Isak then twisted past the Dutch stopper but just as he was about to apply the finish, Flekken somehow clawed a hand beneath him and swept the danger clear.

After the mid-way stage of the first half had passed Yehor Yarmoliuk and Bruno traded pops at each end with neither managing to edge their sides ahead. But Brentford regained the lead after a severe lapse in concentration.

Hall moved the ball upfield to Harvey Barnes but the £38million man casually passed it across the middle of the pitch and straight to the feet of Yoane Wissa. The DR Congo star could not believe his luck and he would make no mistake as he powered up the field before taking seven touches and then curving it past Pope from just inside the box on 28 minutes.

Barnes was devastated by his mistake but made amends very quickly and just four minutes later, the game was level again. This time Joelinton had a hand as he worked the ball down the right-hand side.

Murphy tried to play the ball in but the Bees half-cleared only as far as Barnes who composed himself before hitting an angled effort that left Flekken with no chance. The two teams went in level at 2-2 but the first half had been more like an NBA game in truth.

A vital touch from Pope just after the break saw Wissa's shot deflect off Tino Livramento before the ball clipped the post in a near miss for Brentford. Barnes ventured down the left on 51 minutes but his curling effort flashed just wide of the post.

However, the home side would go into the lead for a third time after more charitable defending from Newcastle. This time a routine free-kick was pumped long by Flekken with Fabian Schar unable to get a head on it.

Nathan Collins then ghosted past Joelinton before striking it beyond Pope from eight-yards for another gift-wrapped goal for the Bees. With Joelinton and Murphy caught standing like statues, Howe instantly withdrew the pair and tried to freshen things up.

It was a moment that left Burn turning the air blue as he berated his fellow defenders after such a limp attempt to prevent a crucial goal.

Howe looked to change things on the hour when bringing on Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon for Joelinton and Murphy. With Brentford piling on the pressure and looking for a fourth, Howe got tough again, taking off Barnes and Longstaff for Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson.

But Newcastle reached the 83rd minute without producing a shot on target in the second half. At that stage, Howe turned to 34-year-old Kieran Trippier to replace Hall with Livramento moving to left-back.

With six minutes to go Isak crossed for Tonali but the Italy star headed over the top with time running out. Almiron scooped a shot over after Isak's effort was deflected on 87 minutes.

Mbeumo then teed up substitute Kevin Schade who skipped free from Schar and Livramento before tucking home at 4-2. It was almost five in stoppage time as Pope raced out before being tackled by Mbeumo before striking at goal before Burn cleared off the line to spare his blushes.

In response Gordon had Newcastle's first shot on target in the second half with 93 minutes played. Unfortunately, it was too little too late, a big rethink is needed at United on the evidence of this.

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

Attendance: 17,078 (Newcastle fans 1,706)