Newcastle United kept their European hopes alive as they ended the 2023/2024 Premier League season with a thrilling 4-2 victory at Brentford.
The Magpies will qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League if Manchester City beat city-rivals Manchester United in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
After a positive start from Brentford, the visitors took the lead on 21 minutes through Harvey Barnes’ header, and their advantage was soon doubled through Jacob Murphy.
Alexander Isak slotted beyond the goalkeeper to make it 3-0 before half-time, but the hosts responded after the interval thanks to goals from Vitaly Janelt and Yoane Wissa.
Bruno Guimaraes got Newcastle’s fourth in the 78th minute to ensure the Geordies claimed the three points as they end the season in seventh place, whilst Brentford finish in 16th.
How the match unfolded
The Bees thought they had made the perfect start inside two minutes but after a VAR check Ivan Toney’s effort was ruled out by referee Simon Hooper for offside.
Toney continued to search for a goal against his former club but was denied by the outstretched leg of Nick Pope.
It was Newcastle though who should have taken the lead before the 10-minute mark. Isak set up an unmarked Joelinton from close range, but the Brazilian failed to convert.
But it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 21 minutes. Barnes darted into the six-yard box to meet a delightful delivery by Guimaraes and head the visitors ahead.
Sean Longstaff thought he had quickly doubled their advantage, only to be flagged offside. Murphy was not denied when he latched on to Isak’s exquisite pass across the penalty area to make it 2-0.
Just two minutes later, Isak grabbed his 21st goal of the season when he fired past Mark Flekken.
The Brentford stopper ensured Isak did not extend Newcastle’s advantage further, with a smart stop to deny the Swedish international before half-time.
The home side responded after the interval and Janelt reduced the deficit, striking home after being picked out by Wissa.
Pope clawed away Toney’s header before Wissa curled a superb effort past the goalkeeper to set up a tense finale for the visitors.
However, the nerves were soon settled when Guimaraes followed up a free-kick to ensure the points returned to Tyneside.
Brentford’s home defence breached
Brentford end the season comfortably above the bottom three, after arguably their toughest campaign yet in the Premier League, having contended with key players and the talk of a potential relegation battle at the turn of the year.
The Bees could not finish on a high and instead they looked beaten before the half-time whistle, although they scored twice in the second half to test Newcastle’s resolve.
Going into the match with a recent impressive home record, including having kept a clean sheet in the past three, Newcastle’s attacking capabilities were too much for the hosts to handle.
It means Thomas Frank will have to wait to earn his 100th win in charge of the club, whilst Toney ends the season having not scored in his past 12 league games.
Mathias Jensen did become the third Brentford player to reach 100 Premier League appearances.
Toon await news of European qualification
It has been an entertaining season for Newcastle, with more than 80 goals scored and over 60 goals conceded.
And the entertainment continued, after being relieved that Toney’s early goal was chalked off for offside, the Toon established a three-goal lead at the break mainly thanks to the individual brilliance of Isak.
There was further good news with Pope back between the sticks for the first time since December and he made a crucial save with the game still goalless and at 3-1.
It was a rare win on their travels for Eddie Howe’s side, whose patchy away form has proved costly in their quest to earn a top-six finish, with St James’ Park providing the majority of their points.
Seventh spot though could still be enough for European football next season if Man City defeat Man United in next Saturday’s FA Cup final.
Club reports
Brentford report | Newcastle report
Key facts
Newcastle’s 85 Premier League goals is their most scored in a top-flight campaign since 1960/61 (86), while they’ve both scored and conceded in 23 different Premier League games this season for the first time since 2012/13 (also 23).
Howe has now won 50 Premier League games in charge of Newcastle in what was his 103rd game (D25 L28) – only Kevin Keegan has reached 50 top-flight wins for the club in fewer games (92).
Isak is the first Newcastle player to score at least 25 goals in all competitions in a Premier League season for Newcastle since Alan Shearer in 2003/04 (28).
Brentford’s Wissa has scored eight goals in his last 13 Premier League games, while he’s just the second player for the Bees to both score and assist in successive games in the competition after Bryan Mbeumo in October 2023.