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Premier League | Gameweek 30

Apr 8, 2023 at 3pm UK

Brentford Community Stadium

Brentford
1 - 2
Newcastle

Toney (45+1' pen.)

FT(HT: 1-0)

Raya (54' og.), Isak (61')
Botman (28'), Isak (87')

Newcastle United reclaim third position with narrow victory at Brentford

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 08 April 2023

Newcastle reclaim third position with narrow victory at Brentford

Newcastle United return to third position in the Premier League table courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

Newcastle United have returned to third position in the Premier League table courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

Ivan Toney sent Thomas Frank's side ahead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, but an own goal from Bees goalkeeper David Raya levelled the scores in the 54th minute before Alexander Isak scored what proved to be the winner just past the hour mark.

Eddie Howe's side have moved back above Manchester United into third, three points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four finish.

Brentford thought that they had taken the lead in the eighth minute of the contest when Toney converted from close range after Newcastle had failed to deal with a corner.

Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes in action with Brentford's Kevin Schade on April 8, 2023 © Reuters

However, VAR ultimately found that Toney was in an offside position, with the visitors receiving a huge let-off in the early stages of the encounter in the English capital.

Brentford were awarded a penalty in the 27th minute of the contest when Sven Botman brought Kevin Schade to the ground with a rash challenge, but Toney saw his penalty saved by Magpies goalkeeper Nick Pope.

The Bees were handed another penalty late in the first period, though, with Isak catching Rico Henry inside the box, and the decision was given after referee Chris Kavanagh had a look at the monitor.

Toney stepped up once again and this time made no mistake, with the England international firing his effort past Pope to send Brentford into a deserved lead in front of their own supporters.

Brentford forward Ivan Toney celebrates scoring against Newcastle United on April 8, 2023 © Reuters

Newcastle hardly threatened in the first half, but Howe's side were level in the 54th minute of the contest, with Joelinton managing to work his way past Ben Mee before beating Raya, who was credited with the own goal.

The Magpies then took the lead in the 61st minute, with Isak picking out the back of the net with a brilliant strike after being fed by Callum Wilson.

Newcastle thought that they had scored a third in the 65th minute, with Wilson finding the back of the net from inside the box after Brentford had failed to deal with a corner from the right, but the goal was disallowed, with the striker found to have handled the ball before converting.

Brentford came close to a leveller in the 80th minute when Toney met a free kick, but the striker's header was excellently kept out by Pope, who also denied Bryan Mbeumo late on, with Newcastle picking up another huge win in their battle to finish in the top four.

Brentford are next in action away to Wolverhampton Wanderers next Saturday, while Newcastle will be bidding to continue their winning run when they head to an in-form Aston Villa on the same afternoon.