Newcastle United 'gifts' raise questions as frustration over missed chances hits hard
It was another six-goal thriller but Newcastle United left west London on Saturday night with rather different feelings than after their 3-3 draw with Liverpool last week.
While Eddie Howe's side had plenty of chances in the 4-2 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, so defence lapses, coupled with a few shocking misses at the other end, meant the search for a win since the last international break goes on.
Brentford's home record is impressive, but it could have been a different story had Newcastle taken their chances, with Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy and Sandro Tonali guilty of missing three big opportunities. The Bees' goals were all too easy as well, something which many of those reporting on the game in the national media have picked up on. Here's what they had to say.
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Newcastle crumbled
A game almost as wild as the wind it was played in ended with Newcastle getting blown away, as Brentford claimed a seventh win in eight unbeaten home games and in the process cast off the hex these opponents had held over them. The last side to win here, by the same score on the final day of last season, and not beaten by the Bees in the league since 1948, this time Newcastle crumbled. It means Brentford have now beaten all 25 teams they have faced in the Premier League at least once.
Wasted several chances
There could have been even more goals to add to the Gtech tally had Newcastle not wasted several chances. Isak has been directly involved in seven goals in Newcastle's past seven league games, scoring five and setting up two – but he should have scored a sixth when he robbed a defender then rounded Brentford keeper Flekken.
The Swedish striker took too long to apply the final touch though, allowing Flekken to scramble back and parry the ball away. Also in the first half, Bruno Guimaraes flashed a volley just wide from 25 yards and Murphy headed over a Barnes cross from six yards out. It means Newcastle have now only won twice in their last 11 league matches, and here suffered their first league loss to Brentford since January 1948.
Too easy to play against
For Newcastle, how long ago that ding-dong against Liverpool on Wednesday night and a premature referee’s whistle away from a victory over the leaders feels. That’s two points from a possible 12. Ten points from their last 11 games. The Magpies have become much too easy to play against and the second half was so bad that manager Eddie Howe was left apologising to the fans, questioning the attitude of the players and wondering whether Storm Darragh played its part.
Cause for frustration
The manner in which Newcastle gifted goals to the hosts will have been cause for frustration. Harvey Barnes was guilty of losing possession to allow Yoane Wissa to put Brentford 2-1 up, an error for which he quickly atoned to make it 2-2.
Alexander Isak had earlier scored Newcastle's first equaliser, heading in to cancel out Bryan Mbeumo's eighth-minute opener and setting the tone for another thrilling, high-scoring home win for Thomas Frank's side, capped by Schade's strike in stoppage time.
