Newcastle United player ratings v Brentford: 'Anonymous' 3/10 plus 'disastrous' & 'poor' 4/10s in 3-2 defeat

Newcastle United are now four games without a win in the Premier League after losing 3-2 to Brentford.

Bruno Guimaraes was back from injury and back into the starting XI as Eddie Howe made four changes from Wednesday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg defeat away to Manchester City.

Yoane Wissa started against the club he joined Newcastle from for £55million in the summer, while Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes also came into the XI for Aaron Ramsdale, Dan Burn, Jacob Ramsey and Nick Woltemade.

Less than two minutes in and Brentford saw a penalty appeal turned down after Kieran Trippier pulled Lewis Keane-Potter’s shirt. VAR looked at it but stuck with referee Andy Madley’s on-field decision.

Newcastle looked threatening from corners early on and that was their route to the opening goal when Botman, on his 100th appearance for the club, flicked home Guimaraes’ in-swinging corner in the 24th minute.

That was the first goal the Bees had conceded from a corner since the opening weekend of the season.

But the Magpies’ lead lasted less than 15 minutes as Dango Ouattara ran clear down the right and his resulting cross was headed in by Vitaly Janelt.

The visitors then went into half-time leading after Jacob Murphy conceded a penalty for handling Mathias Jenson’s shot. Igor Thiago converted as he sent Nick Pope diving the wrong.

Howe made a double change at half-time, introducing Nick Woltemade and Anthony Elanga in place of Murphy and Willock. Woltemade played into the No.10 behind Wissa.

Newcastle pushed for an equaliser and did so in the 78th minute when Guimaraes converted from the penalty spot. The Brazilian was tripped by Michael Kayode and following a VAR check stepped up to send Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way.

But United still found time to lose the game when Ouattara netted his side’s winner in the 85th minute.

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