Newcastle United’s defensive issues and inability to hold leads resurfaced as they lost 3–2 to Brentford at St James’ Park, their third straight Premier League defeat.
Sven Botman put Newcastle ahead with
a header from a Bruno Guimaraes corner on 24 minutes, but the pattern of surrendering leads quickly returned to SJP.
Vitaly Janelt equalized for Brentford, heading home Dango Ouattara’s cross in the 37th minute.
The hosts collapsed before halftime: Jacob Murphy handled Mathias Jensen’s shot in the area, and Igor Thiago converted the penalty for his 17th of the season. Newcastle were booed at the break and responded with a double substitution, but their struggles continued and things only got worse.
Yes, Bruno Guimaraes levelled from the penalty spot after a VAR review for a foul by Michael Kayode, raising brief hopes of a comeback, but that was it as (surprise!) the Magpies once again surrendered points.
Newcastle’s defensive weaknesses remained on display, and Ouattara scored the winner in the 85th minute, smashing the ball through Nick Pope after a Jensen assist.
Eddie Howe’s side have now dropped 19 points from winning positions this season, the worst record in the league, and it’s starting to smell a but like burnout.
Boos echoed around the ground at full-time, reflecting growing unrest and lost of patience among the Geordie faithful. Newcastle have just one win in eight across all competitions and sit ten points off fifth place… the same distance there is from the relegation zone entering Sunday’s slate of games.
Howe accepted responsibility, admitting “it’s up to us to deliver better,” and conceded that the team must “go back to basics” to recover defensive solidity and attacking threat. At least the gaffer was humble enough to say he’s not doing his job well enough. Proof is in the pudding.
The pressure is mounting, Howe will inevitably shoulder and feel it for the most part, and broader questions about the PIF-led project,summer signings, squad depth, and on-field (lack of) production and staleness will only intensify barring a 180-degree turn.
Newcastle’s schedule, for one, won’t be the thing making it easier on the boys. The Magpies enter a stretch featuring three consecutive away games next, with a quick turnaround coming at Tottenham on Tuesday.
