Eddie Howe:

"Today is a huge moment in our season. We needed incredible character to come back like that and we have proved time and again that we have the energy and fight in us.

"It was a very tough game. It was very physical, as we knew it would be. We suffered in the first half. But second half, what a response from a group of players that have played three games in six days. They were asked to dig really deep for the result but responded really well.

"I have only seen one replay (of the second penalty). I thought it was harsh. I thought the handball on Callum was also harsh, but that is just my opinion.

"We changed things tactically (at half time). Sometimes that can give you a lift in itself. We knew we were desperate for the result and threw caution to the wind a little bit. 

The players responded well physically, even though we were a little bit fatigued from the week we have had: that is down to the characters we have."

On fielding a front pairing of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson:

"The thinking behind getting Alex and Callum together was pretty obvious really. I just think we needed more of a focal point in the game. We needed the ability to run in behind because, for whatever reason, that wasn’t happening in the first half. 

"That was the thinking behind putting those two players together, and I have to say, I thought they linked so well. They really combined together and gave us a totally different look. They’re two quality players. 

Can they play together every week? Tactically, probably not. But can they play together in a game like this? Absolutely. We don't want to force it and the team suffers, we want it to be to the benefit of the team. Today was the right time and they caused them no end of problems."

On Anthony Gordon's reaction to being taken off:

"I’ve got no problem. Anthony is a passionate boy. He wants to do well, but there was seconds left on the clock and we wanted to get Matty (Ritchie) on because Anthony was holding his ankle.

"He just needs to control his emotions in that moment, but there are no problems."

On Allan Saint-Maximin:

"I don’t think it’s serious with Allan. He didn’t feel 100% during the West Ham game, so we decided to scan him. It wasn’t a clear injury, but we decided to scan him and it revealed a very minor problem with his hamstring. We knew pretty much straight away he wasn’t going to be available for this game.

"I’m guessing slightly, but it’ll maybe be a couple of weeks. It’s nothing too serious, although it was a big blow because of the form Allan has been in. But again, we back the strength of the squad."

 

They Said

An imperious strike from Alexander Isak gave Newcastle their third victory in just seven days, regaining third place after Manchester United had fleetingly occupied it earlier on Saturday.

United's second victory of the week in the capital was achieved in rather different circumstances to that at West Ham on Wednesday however; Eddie Howe's side recovering from a one goal deficit at half time to make it five wins on the bounce.

That disadvantage could have been worse, with the Bees awarded two penalties in the opening 45 minutes after having seen an earlier effort disallowed after VAR confirmed an offside by Ivan Toney.  

A Magpies side with Isak and Joe Willock in for Callum Wilson and the hamstrung Allan Saint-Maximin were clearly unsettled by the hosts, who were without a win in their last three matches but beaten just once at home all season - by Arsenal. 

Brentford came close to an early opener when Ivan Toney fired across goal and within eight minutes the former Magpie had tucked home a rebound off Nick Pope from close range. Not for the first time in this game though, VAR watcher Darren England would intervene to guide indecisive referee Chris Kavanagh from his remote viewpoint at Stockley Park - some ten miles away.

England belatedly decreed that Toney was offside - replicating Paul Tierney's decision earlier in the season, when the striker was illegally positioned as Bryan Mbeumo thought he'd put Brentford ahead in the 10th minute of the corresponding game at St. James' Park.

Newcastle failed to heed this early shot across the bows though, the game continued scoreless until the 29th minute, at which point a Brentford surge down their right was halted when Dan Burn charged down Hickey's forward in the opposition half. 

The left back was stranded upfield when home substitute Mathias Jorgensen looped a pass down the flank to Kevin Schade and he outpaced Fabian Schar before heading into the box and looking up, with three colleagues arriving for a pass.

Enter Sven Botman, who unceremoniously unloaded the on-loan Freiburg forward and was cautioned along with conceding a penalty that even Kavanagh couldn't fail to see.  

Previously perfect in the Premier League from 12 yards, Ivan Toney took the spot kick but could only trundle it along the ground in the direction of Pope, who dropped to his left and gathered easily.

The game restarted at 0-0 - but Newcastle conspicuously still struggling to create any dangerous moments at the other end and Isak noticeably isolated up front.

Two minutes before the interval and all eyes were on England again, a high boot from Isak catching Rico Henry on the chest, as a corner came over. The outcome was another spot kick, this time after Kavanagh checked the screen following a ludicrously long delay for VAR. Clear and obvious, really?

Toney kept his nerve to confidently fire home and send his side in ahead; Howe responding by leaving both Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff in the dressing room, Anthony Gordon and Wilson appearing.

What followed was an upturn in effort similar to the period that followed United going ahead against Wolves at Gallowgate last month, with continual pressure brought to bear on the opposition goal.

Two early corners were cleared before Dan Burn's shot was blocked and Kieran Trippier's ball to Joelinton saw the Brazilian hare in from the right and the ball end up in the back of the net via the Brentford goalkeeper.

Both Willock and Gordon then saw crosses cleared before Wilson cut in from the right flank and teed up Isak for his screamer a central spot from the edge of the area - a goal fit to win any game.

Wilson then thought he'd added a third within five minutes following a Trippier corner, but saw that ruled out for handball by VAR. Although there did seem a lack of enthusiasm in celebrations by both players and fans, it was another questionable decision given the footage that emerged.

The Bees did belatedly respond and after putting one chance wide, Tony saw Pope reach his header on 80 minutes. Wilson fired wide during injury time, before fellow replacement Elliot Anderson missed a glorious chance to bag his first Toon goal - firing weakly at Raya when clean through.

There were to be no late goals at either end though; team and fans celebrating at full time in now familiar style, with even the home boss applauding as he passed on a post-match lap of the pitch.

In the middle of both the onfield entourage and the 21st dressing room victory photo of an incredible season was Anthony Gordon - captured on social media reacting badly to his manager after being substituted but soon back in the fold; a storm on the touchline proving to be a storm in a teacup.

Even by our recent standards this has been an incredible seven days for Howe and his side; nine points and nine goals and a trio of slack-jawed opposition managers silenced. At the point of the season that we routinely begin to founder we've seemingly got our second wind - Joelinton in particular prospering since his enforced two match absence and the strikers back in the groove. Anything seems possible.

Biffa