Newcastle United’s miserable away form continues with 3-1 loss at Brentford

LONDON – Newcastle United’s miserable away run in the English Premier League continued on Nov 9 with a 3-1 defeat by Brentford after Dan Burn conceded a second-half penalty and was sent off.

Igor Thiago made it 2-1 from the spot in the 78th minute, after Kevin Schade’s 56th-minute equaliser, as the hosts fought back from going a goal down against the run of play in the 27th minute at the Brentford Community Stadium.

Thiago then grabbed his second in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews told Sky Sports of the Brazilian: “He has been pretty good, hasn’t he?

“He played here last season against Newcastle and I remember he was a real focal point for us and we won. He is growing in stature and confidence and he has been pretty sensational this season.”

Burn was sent off in the 73rd minute for his second yellow card for fouling Dango Ouattara and Newcastle replaced goalkeeper Nick Pope with Aaron Ramsdale off the bench in a rash of substitutes once the video assistant referee confirmed the penalty.

Newcastle have yet to win away in the league this season, losing five and drawing four in the top flight since April, while faring considerably better at home, in Europe and in cup competitions.

The Nov 9 loss was their third straight away defeat in the league while Brentford moved up to 12th.

Harvey Barnes put the visitors ahead with their first shot on target after Brentford, who have already beaten Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa in west London, had come close to taking the lead.

The winger wrong-footed two defenders with a neat twist before slotting past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Pope denied Brentford an opener in the 17th minute, pushing away a Mikkel Damsgaard effort and then blocking captain Nathan Collins’ follow-up shot after a goalmouth scramble.

Collins told Sky Sports: “We come at home and we always have faith. Here, we are a bit of a menace of a team...

“It is so awkward against 10 men and you think you should dominate. You have to be composed and get the third goal and we did.

“We just keep winning games and if he (Igor Thiago) keeps scoring goals, we can keep going higher.”

Despite being a goal down at half-time, Brentford had 54 per cent possession and five shots to Newcastle’s two and it was not long before the scores were level again, with Schade heading in off a trademark long throw from Michael Kayode.

Brentford thought they had a penalty in the 61st minute when Burn downed Ouattara, but the referee instead booked the Brentford player for diving.

Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa, out injured since his move to Tyneside from Brentford, was absent from the visiting squad but the home fans still let their feelings known about the manner of his departure. 

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest beat relegation rivals Leeds United 3-1 to secure the first Premier League victory of Sean Dyche’s reign.

Lukas Nmecha gave Leeds an early lead, but the home side fought back with goals from Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson.

It was Forest’s first league victory since beating Brentford on the opening weekend of the season in August.

Dyche told Sky Sports: “It’s a sign of the mentality changing. We were on a run of one loss in five now. It’s good to get that winning feeling back.

“Awkward game for many reasons. We had to use the squad. We have to work with the players and continue the growth.”

Elsewhere, Aston Villa thrashed high-flying Bournemouth 4-0 to make it five wins from their last six league games via goals from Emiliano Buendia, Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley and Donyell Malen. REUTERS, AFP