Brentford 1 Newcastle 2: Isak scores winner as Toon come from behind after Toney misses then scores penalty
BETTER stock up on the sunscreen all you topless Geordies.
Because the Toon Army are heading into Europe and they’re going to need plenty of factor 50 to protect their tattooed bellies next season.
For Newcastle have their sights firmly locked on a top four finish and their giddy supporters have every right to get excited about the prospect of a long awaited return to the Champions League.
Even a wretched first-half performance from Eddie Howe’s men could not knock them off course as they reclaimed third spot with priceless goals from Joelinton and Alexander Isak.
For the first 45 minutes they were all over the place as Brentford striker Ivan Toney threatened to stop his former club in their tracks.
The recently capped England striker has been described as “the best penalty taker in the world” by Bees boss Thomas Frank for his remarkable record from 12 yards.
So it was an absolute shock when his 29th minute spot kick was easily saved by Three Lions team-mate Nick Pope.
It was the first time Toney had ever missed for the Bees after 22 successful efforts and his only other failure came back in 2018 when he was still playing for Peterborough.
In truth, it was a pretty poor effort as Pope refused to commit himself early and was able to fall on Toney’s tame effort rolled straight at him in the middle of his goal.
The penalty had been awarded after Kevin Schade, making his first start at the Gtech Community Stadium since his January move from Freiburg, was wiped out in the box by Sven Botman.
So when Rico Henry was felled by Isak’s high boot just before half-time, Toney could have been forgiven for going missing as ref Chris Kavanagh studied the incident on the pitchside screen after being advised to take a look by VAR Darren England.
And when protesting Newcastle players further delayed the penalty, Toney had even more time to ponder his earlier miss as he squared up to Pope again.
But there was to be no backing down from the Brentford idol and though Pope went the right way, there was no chance of getting his hands to this one.
That was Toney’s 19th goal of a remarkable season and even the looming threat of a long ban for breaching the FA’s gambling regulations has not been able to burst his bubble.
It was yet another reminder to Newcastle of just how much they blundered when they allowed him just five minutes of Premier League action before selling him to Peterborough five seasons ago.
Yet even Toney’s best efforts were not enough to stop a Newcastle side who have now won their last five games and have really got the bit between their teeth
But it took a half-time shake-up from Howe to spark the fightback after struggling to cope with Brentford’s innovative set-piece routines.
Having allowed themselves to be forced onto the back foot by Brentford’s physical power, it took the introduction of Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon to finally seize the initiative for the visitors.
They levelled in the 54th minute when Joelinton skinned Ben Mee in the channel before poking his shot in off the heel of keeper David Raya.
And eight minutes later they were firmly in control when Wilson rolled the ball into Isak’s path and the £63million Swede struck an absolute beauty into the top corner from the edge of the area.
That was Isak’s eighth goal in just ten Premier League appearances and after an injury-plagued start to his Newcasle career he is really starting to look the part.
And if he is a key man now, he is going to absolutely crucial next season when Newcastle are back at Europe’s top table.
Here’s how the action unfolded…