It was a familiar story of Newcastle United chasing a game that slipped further and further away from them as the Magpies were downed by Brentford at the Gtech Stadium. With the game finely poised at 2-2 at the interval, Eddie Howe's side managed just one shot on target in the second period, while the home side netted twice to pile more misery on the inconsistent north east outfit.

With Newcastle trailing in the closing stages, £150m worth of talent was called upon from the bench in the form of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier. However, just like November's defeat to West Ham United, Howe's side looked more disjointed - rather than more of a threat - as new faces were introduced from the sidelines.

On that occasion it was a front four of Gordon, Alexander Isak, Joelinton and Harvey Barnes tasked with leading the line and interchanging as a front four. It never really clicked on Tyneside two weeks ago.

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On Saturday, in the capital, Howe stuck Wilson and Isak centrally, with Almiron and Gordon either side of the forwards in the closing stages. The usual 4-3-3 changed to a fluid 4-2-3-1 but those tasked with firing Newcastle back into the tie never truly looked comfortable.

"I have to be very reflective when I look back and make tweaks," Howe said at full time. "We are tweaking things all the time. We are not doing the same thing. I will continue to do that until I do find the answers."

Bruno Guimaraes came out in front of the cameras at full-time and lamented the fact Newcastle continue to be 'reactive', struggling to score the first goal. His side never looked like truly getting back into the game in the closing stages at Brentford, after going 2-0 down against the Hammers or when losing at Fulham earlier in the campaign.

Couple this with the fact Newcastle threw away leads at Liverpool and Crystal Palace in recent days and weeks - and Howe has a range of issues to fix over a festive period that now has added pressure attached to it.

“It’s frustrating because before the last few games, we were looking really tight at the back and the problems were probably at the other end of the pitch," he added. "In the last two games, we’ve scored five goals and looked a really good attacking team, but lo and behold, we go and concede seven in those two games from nowhere really. It’s difficult to work out.”