Newcastle United vs Brentford ratings: One 3/10 and several 4/10s as Eddie Howe given brutal reality check

Newcastle United surrendered a one-goal lead in the capital to lose 3-1 for the second successive Sunday as Brentford wrecked havoc at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Harvey Barnes gave the Magpies the lead on 27 minutes before goals from Kevin Schade and a Igor Thiago brace stole all the points. On the balance of play, the Bees deserved their victory as Newcastle limped to another torrid showing on the road.

Brentford had the first big chance of the game to force a double save from Nick Pope. A free-kick from the left resulted in Aaron Hickey and Igor Thiago being denied by the Toon shot-stopper.

In truth, it was a familiar tune in the capital as Newcastle - struggling to get out of their own half - looked leggy. A piece of brilliance by Barnes against the run of play turned the game on its head.

Jacob Murphy fizzed a ball into the area, with Nick Woltemade’s instinctive flick finding Barnes. The winger sent two Brentford players for a hot dog with one swivel before firing a left-footed strike home.

Newcastle could have doubled the lead early in the second half when Bruno Guimaraes’ brilliant pass found Barnes. Some clever wing play saw him squirt the ball into the six-yard box - but Woltemade was nowhere to be seen.

With the second half following a similar pattern to the first, an inevitable goal eventually came. Pope will not want to watch the highlights tonight as he was caught in no man’s land from a long throw, with Schade heading into an empty net.

Hearts were in mouths on the hour mark when Dan Burn appeared to bring down Dango Outtara. Referee Stuart Attwell booked the Bees man for simulation, but an ensuing VAR check had the 1,700-strong away end fearing a penalty.

Judging by the replays, nobody could have complained if the official was sent for an on-field review. But if that were the let-off, the Magpies’ worst fears became reality moments later when Burn clumsily challenged Outtara again.

A comical moment saw play stopped for almost six minutes while VAR intervened - with the injured Pope making way for Ramsdale. The Toon loanee failed to become the hero as Thiago sent him the wrong way.

A calamitous afternoon was topped off in stoppage time when Thiago skipped past Sven Botman - who endured a torrid time all game - to bag his brace. Defeat leaves Newcastle two points above the relegation zone - a brutal reality heading into the November international break.