It was a gritty win that may yet define Newcastle United's season. On an afternoon where the race for the Champions League could have taken a fresh twist, following Manchester United and Spurs' wins, the Magpies ended up staying in third after coming from behind to beat Brentford 2-1.
Newcastle have now won five games on the bounce and picked up a maximum nine points from three matches in just six days. This latest victory saw Newcastle become the first team to win at the Gtech Community Stadium since league leaders Arsenal in September after defeating a Brentford side who had been unbeaten in all 32 top-flight fixtures in which they had previously taken the lead.
It felt like another acid test had been passed. Sluggish Newcastle were awful in the first half on Saturday and could have found themselves 3-0 down at the break, but the visitors did not give up after Ivan Toney's opener and recovered to claim all three points thanks to an own goal from David Raya and a superb winner from Alexander Isak.
READ MORE: Newcastle's half-time masterstroke, £83m dream team unleashed and Ivan Toney taunt - 5 things
It was a comeback that was masterminded in the away dressing room at half-time. Howe made two smart changes at the break - throwing on Anthony Gordon to give his side more width and bringing on Callum Wilson to offer the isolated Isak more support - but the Newcastle boss' words were just as important. Howe as good as told his players to forget what had happened in the first half. Rather than vent, as he did midweek at West Ham, Howe gathered his thoughts.
"I was more focused on what we could do to change the second half and change the trajectory of the game," the Newcastle head coach told reporters. "I felt losing my temper or being angry in that moment would only have had negative connotations for the team.
"Giving a commentary on what happened would have been negative for the team as well. It was about, 'This is what we have to do to try and get back in this game' so I was actually very calm."
It was another reminder why Newcastle's owners have long found their man at a time when Chelsea and Spurs are scrambling around for a permanent manager. Those measured words, and the changes Howe made, soon paid off with Newcastle equalising just nine minutes into the second half after Joelinton's shot was deflected into the net by Brentford goalkeeper David Raya. Rather than celebrate, Joelinton raised his arm up and down to whip up the bouncing away end behind the goal even further. The message was clear: Newcastle were going for the win - and they did.
Isak and Wilson have rarely been on the pitch at the same time, because it would affect the balance of the side from the off, but they linked up brilliantly in the second half on Saturday. Indeed, it was Wilson who unselfishly turned inside and teed up his team-mate's superb winner when the number nine could just so easily have gone it alone.
It summed up the team-first mentality at Newcastle that everyone has had to buy into - regardless of status or price tag. Take £45m signing Gordon, for instance, who was substituted at the death after going down holding his ankle.
Gordon was ironically cheered by Brentford fans as he fumed at the decision, but Howe calmly dealt with the situation and, just minutes later, the pair were arm in arm after the final whistle. In truth, that is the passion Howe wants to see from his players - no one should be delighted to come off - and the Newcastle boss felt it was a 'good sign'.
So, too, was Newcastle's recovery. Newcastle may have won the reverse fixture against Brentford 5-1 at St James' Park, but there was no danger of a repeat of that scoreline six months on.
Yet, unlike a previous era, Newcastle certainly did not travel in fear - far from it - and Brentford boss Thomas Frank knew what was coming. In Frank's words, this was an all-round team that was 'very dynamic, extremely physical, powerful, energetic, very good on set-pieces, very difficult to beat'.
Newcastle, reflecting those words, had only suffered two Premier League defeats on the road, at Man City and Liverpool, and the Magpies had plenty of experience of coming away with results from so-called fortresses, whether it was the Emirates, Old Trafford or the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Newcastle also headed into this game full of confidence after putting West Ham to the sword without even being at their absolute best midweek, but this was going to be an altogether different test across London, particularly without the injured Allan Saint-Maximin.
Howe opted to make two changes once again as Joe Willock and Isak came back into the side in place of Saint-Maximin and Wilson respectively. Joelinton, as a result, moved out to the left, where the Brazilian had previously filled in effectively earlier this season.
Yet these forwards barely had a sniff in the opening stages as physical Brentford put Newcastle under real pressure. This was also Brentford's third game in quick succession, but you would not have known it by the way the hosts started the match, peppering Newcastle's box with crosses.
That pressure looked to have paid off in the 10th minute when Ivan Toney had the ball of the net after firing home the rebound after Nick Pope made a great save to keep out Pontus Jansson's header. However, VAR came to Newcastle's rescue and the goal was ruled out for offside.
It should have been a wake-up call, but Brentford were quicker and sharper and pedestrian Newcastle's usually solid backline could not cope. Never was that more apparent than just before the half-hour mark when Fabian Schar was left in the dust by Kevin Schade and defensive partner Sven Botman rushed across to take the Brentford forward out inside the area.
VAR was not required here and referee Chris Kavanagh immediately awarded the hosts a penalty. Up stepped Ivan Toney, against his former club, but Nick Pope guessed the right way and easily saved his England team-mate's spot-kick. Remarkably, excluding shootouts, it was Toney's first penalty miss since 2018 yet even that did not awaken Newcastle from their slumber and Brentford were controversially awarded another penalty before half-time.
Following a VAR check - Kavanagh went to the pitchside monitor this time - Isak was harshly adjudged to have fouled Rico Henry with a high boot in an attempt to clear a corner. Up stepped Toney once again and, this time, the Brentford star buried his penalty. In truth, it was the least Brentford deserved.
However, Newcastle emerged a different side after the break, with both Wilson and Gordon providing renewed energy, and the visitors drew level in the 54th minute. Trippier slipped Joelinton in down the right and the Brazilian left Ben Mee on his backside with a smart turn before his shot from a tight angle took a deflection off Raya's leg and hit the back of the net.
Newcastle were not finished yet and Howe's side took the lead in the 61st minute. Wilson advanced on goal as Brentford defenders backpedaled and the number nine unselfishly laid the ball off to Isak, who let fly from the edge of the area with a stunning first-time effort into the top corner. It was a goal worthy of settling any game.
READ NEXT
Newcastle send ruthless statement to Premier League as Eddie Howe hints at 'all moments' vision
Newcastle's £128m flex shows rebuild is already well under way as Eddie Howe gets what he wants
Newcastle's ominous warning, Eddie Howe rages and humiliating David Moyes chant - 5 things
Fuming David Moyes stops himself turning the air blue after Newcastle goal against West Ham
Eddie Howe laughs as Newcastle get under the skin of angry Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag
