Newcastle United made it FIVE Premier League wins in a row to stay in third spot in the table after a hard fought victory over battling Brentford.
In a below par first half from Newcastle they went in at the break a goal down and it could have been worse as the Bees piled on the pressure. But two tactical switches from Eddie Howe had the desired effect and a deflected Joelinton equaliser and strike of true class from Alexander Isak netted three valuable points.
Newcastle still hold a three-point advantage over Tottenham Hotspur and what could be a crucial game in hand. In a game dominated by VAR decisions, with two penalty awards and two disallowed goals, the Magpies showed their top three mettle.
The teams had walked out to Hey Jude in the now traditional anthem for Brentford's buzzing Bees with both teams in contention for Europe going into the game. Howe tweaked his frontline with Allan Saint-Maximin missing with a hamstring concern and Joelinton replacing him alongside Alexander Isak who came in for Callum Wilson.
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Former Arsenal star Joe Willock came into midfield to fill the gap left by Joelinton. It was Brentford who had the game's first chance as they got off to a flying start.
In the first minute ex-Toon striker, Ivan Toney whipped the ball in fiercely down the right but Newcastle cleared their lines. United could not manage to do so effectively on eight minutes though.
Pontus Jansson's header from a left-wing cross was pushed away by Nick Pope but only as far as Toney who applied the finish from close range. However, a subsequent VAR checked showed Toney was marginally offside and United players were able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Jansson was afforded another chance on 13 minutes when he headed over from Rico Henry's cross but this time it landed on the roof of the net. The Sweden international's afternoon was over two minutes later when he was replaced by Mathias Jorgensen.
With 20 minutes gone Fabian Schar was shoved over in the penalty area but referee Christopher Kavanagh waved away protests. The first half reached the mid-way stage with Newcastle failing to register a shot on target.
Kavanagh did point to the spot when Kevin Schade showed Schar a clean pair of heels down the right before Sven Botman steamed in and conceded a penalty as well as picking up a yellow card. Toney stepped up but Pope guessed the right way and saved it before clutching the ball to his chest.
Kavanagh was busy again before the break after Isak was deemed to have fouled Henry. After a long VAR inquest and a visit to the screen Kavanagh pointed to the spot.
Toney stepped up for a second time but this time beat Pope by guiding the ball to the right of the goal. And that was enough to send Brentford in ahead at the interval.
Howe wasted no time trying to change things and introduced Anthony Gordon and Wilson for the second half. Whether Longstaff and Murphy paid the price for an overall ineffective first half is up for debate but they could not have been the only contenders to be hooked.
United made a much brighter start to the second half and the changes offered more bite in the final third. But the goal came from Joelinton after he'd dropped back into midfield.
Trippier rolled the ball down the right before Joelinton cut inside from an acute angle and casually slotted the ball through the legs of David Raya who was then credited with an own goal on 54 minutes. Newcastle looked like a different team after the break and were soon ahead.
Just after the hour mark substitute Wilson took the ball down on the right-hand side of the penalty area before rolling it into the path of Isak who curled it majestically past Raya. It was no more than Newcastle deserved after a flying start to the second half.
But there was more VAR drama around the corner for Newcastle. Wilson brought the ball down in the box before steering it home but was adjudged to have handled the ball, and the strike was wiped out.
Shandon Baptiste and Bryan Mbeumo came on for Brentford for the final 17 minutes of the contest as they replaced Aaron Hickey and Josh Dasilva. Pope pulled off a fantastic save to deny Toney with 11 minutes to go as Brentford began to apply more pressure.
Toney got up to flick his head at goal with Pope saving low down from point-blank range to deny the England striker. Two minutes later United responded when Wilson again got the ball down well and teed up Bruno Guimaraes but he sent the shot over.
Brentford threw two more substitutes in Vitaly Janelt and Yoane Wissa but Newcastle were looking dangerous on the break. A double change saw Elliot Anderson and Jamaal Lascelles introduced for the closing stages.
Isak, who was booked for taking his time to leave the pitch, came off for the centre-back and Willock made way for Anderson. In stoppage time Pope came racing out of his goal to twice deny Brentford.
Seconds later Bruno slipped in Wilson but he couldn't stay on his feet and blasted wide of the target. Another chance in the third minute of stoppage time saw Gordon, Wilson and Anderson link up but the young Geordie could only produce a tame shot.
However, Newcastle had done enough to take the points and on a day when one of the most feared Premier League sides asked plenty of questions. The Magpies answered them efficiently - and in true style.
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