Brentford’s fine away run came to an end as Newcastle United ran out 2-1 winners at St. James’ Park on Wednesday evening.

An exciting game saw The Bees giving it their all as matters reached a nail-biting conclusion. Mikkel Damsgaard and Kevin Schade both with opportunities to level things up well into stoppage time but, frustratingly, things ended in the home team’s favour. With it, a first away defeat in the league since the 2-1 reverse at Sunday’s opponents Chelsea back in mid-December.

Given we’re now in April, it has still been a more than impressive run from Thomas Frank’s side.

It was always going to be a huge ask. A midweek shlepp up to the North-East is never easy. This time around was no different with the home side in buoyant mood following their win in the League cup final and the always vociferous atmosphere. At least, initially.

Yet Thomas rolled the dice, with player-of-the season in waiting Mikkel Damsgaard kept on the bench in lieu of Yehor Yarmoliuk. Likewise, Sepp van den Berg returning to the side that beat Bournemouth in place of Kris Ajer.

It made little difference in that opening period. Newcastle were rampant. Riding the wave of noise to run at Brentford. Isak with the first genuine opportunity just two minutes in but KLP doing enough to put him off. Joelinton next up before Isak really started to crank things up.

The hosts eventually ahead after Isak elected to pass to Harvey Barnes rather than shooting himself. The opportunity unmissable but as the net rippled from a clearly off-side position, the flag went up. It was as clear a transgression as they come and a mighty let off for The Bees, given Isak had enough time in the build-up to go for goal himself.

On pushed The Magpies and, eventually, the dam burst. In the second minute of first-half time added on, Jacob Murphy fed Isak from the right. The Swedish striker taking advantage of a slip from Mbeumo and, perhaps with a slight touch off the Brentford man on the way through, finding the back of then net from close in. 1-0 Newcastle. On the balance of play, a goal that had felt like it was coming.

The second-half saw things continue in the same vein. Harvey Barnes with the first chance but shooting wide. Brentford then, finally, coming alive.

First KLP testing Pope with an effort from wide outside before Wissa threatened himself. Damsgaard was brought in to the fray on the hour mark and then not long after it was all square. Nick Pope bringing down Wissa in the six yard box and referee Peter Bankes pointing to the spot. Not a typo.

Bryan Mbeumo cool as you like. The usual approach. The usual outcome. Pope left on his knees as the ball was steered in to the opposite corner. That’s a perfect ten out of ten Premier League penalties for Bryan. Game very much on.

Brentford pushing. Damsgaard pulling strings. Schade bossing it. The German with a long throw in to the box and the ball eventually reaching Ethan Pinnock. Pope beaten but, if anything, the centre-back hit it to well in search of the perfect position.

Rather than finding the top corner his header was just a few inches too far across. Rather than celebrating a goal we had to watch it cannon off the post to safety.

Then, disaster. Newcastle United back in front with one of those freak goals that teams simply can’t legislate for.

Sandro Tonali absolutely lashing in a cross from the right hand touchline, almost on top of the corner flag. The angle of delivery so acute that what should have been a standard cross the moment it was struck, suddenly turned into a venomous shot on target that squeezed between Mark Flekken and his near post.

Kudos to Tonali for the audacity, even if he did admit afterwards it had been “70% cross” with ”also a little luck”. Flekken perhaps may reflect on this one in hindsight although that’s not to denigrate a goalkeeper who has rightly been pushing Damsgaard for star player this season.

Those are the breaks. 2-1 Newcastle United and fifteen minutes remaining. The Bees giving it their all. Wissa, Schade and Damsgaard all with opportunities. Pope equal to it all. Despite that blitzkrieg finale, the hosts holding firm and winning three points that propelled then to within touching distance of the Champions League spots.

With it, Brentford not picking up anything away from home for the first time in an eternity. Look positive, though. Imagine saying that after that opening salvo of LLLLLDLL road trips at the start of the League campaign.

All well and good but what about the stats that really count? Namely, our top five player ratings in the ongoing quest to find an overall player of the season. Five points being awarded for star player, four for second place, three for third etc with the totals added up game-by-game to find an overall winner after game 38.

2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 30 (vs Newcastle)

1st (Star player: 5 points) – Kevin Schade
Kevin may have been quiet by the levels we know he can reach against Bournemouth, but what a way to bounce back in this one.

Kevin was tenacious. Relentless. Back to his speedy best as he created opportunity for both himself and his team mates. Not to mention more than covering off his own share of work down the other end.

For the record, post-match Opta stats show him to have been Brentford’s most creative player. Something apparent to those watching the action unfurl.

A well-deserved return to the star-player awards.

2nd (4 points) – Nathan Collins
The defence may have been rejigged a little but Nathan was the same old Mr. Reliable.

It felt at times like he was having to do the work of two men but he didn’t put a foot wrong on a night where, if we’re being honest, several Brentford players lost the ball or slipped over way more than we are accustomed to seeing.

So much that Brentford tried to build was played out through Nathan. Perhaps, as much, symptomatic of the pressure Newcastle were trying to pile on. Yet he was calm and collected when building. An impassable wall when The Bess were being pressed.

The opportunities they had, Newcastle should have been way clear. That they weren’t was as much down to Nathan.

3rd (3 points) – Mikkel Damsgaard
You could see the difference Mikkel made to the team when he came on.

From being rarely involved in the final third, suddenly Brentford were able to break the black and white shackles. Were able to remember they were in this game and had the ability to make a dent in the opposition.

They were level soon after his arrival. Might have a second penalty after he worked space in the box, only to be barged over by Bruno Guimarães. It would have taken a brave referee to award a second, especially there, and sadly Mr Bankes is not that man. Looked nailed on to me though.

Kept going right until the death – feeding his team mates and trying himself. May well have levelled things up in time added on. Not this time though.

4th (2 points) – Christian Norgaard
Like Nathan, Christian is somebody The Bees are utterly dependant on in games such as this. Tricky away fixtures in far flung Northern outposts against teams chasing the very upper echelons of the table.

Like Nathan, he rarely disappoints. The timing of his contract extension not lost on anybody and celebrated with another performance where so much was cut off by Christian. So much built through him.

Had a few attempts at goal, too. Including one at the death that Pope was able to deal with. Christian can at least look back on what was another 90 minutes of tireless endeavour.

5th (1 point) – Bryan Mbeumo
KLP and Wissa were both in with a shout for the final spot. However, it’s going to Bryan for being the one to haul Brentford back in to the game.

Pressure, creativity and chances are all well and good (just ask Newcastle) but putting them away is the thing that counts. Despite the jeering and whistles all around, Bryan was beyond horizontal in the composed stakes as he guided home the equaliser from the spot.

Put simply, it set the cat amongst the Magpies. From a place where they should have been out of sight, the hosts suddenly found themselves level and on the back foot.

Bravo, Bryan.

2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Overall (after Matchweek 30)

All of which means that Mikkel Damsgaard extends his lead at the top over KLP, with Captain Christian now joint third on points with Bryan Mbeumo.

There’s all to play for when Chelsea visit this Sunday.

1st – Mikkel Damsgaard (88 points)
2nd – Keane Lewis-Potter (57 points)
T3rd – Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard (52 points)
5th – Mark Flekken (50 points)