A first home defeat since September saw Brentford turned over by the odd goal in three at the hands of Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

A 2-1 reverse was a gut punching blow for the Bees after one of the most devastating starts to a game we’ve seen in a while. The first half was one of constant Brentford pressure. The Bees all over the visitors and dominating the play to a level that was as far apart from the way we started our previous game (Man U away) as it is possible to get.

Brentford were out of the traps flying and deserved way more than a solitary one goal lead at half time.

Ivan Toney scoring yet another penalty. Cool as you like and moreso given he’d seen an earlier spot kick saved (not a typo). Prior to all of this his initial opener, stabbing home from close range after Nick Pope in nets had only been able to push Pontus Jansson’s header away, was ultimately chalked off for a marginal offside call.

The skipper limping off with little more than a quarter hour played was just about the only blot on an otherwise wonderful first half.

Kevin Schade, starting in place of Bryan Mbeumo, picking up where he left off at Old Trafford and causing Newcastle all manner of nightmares. Botman scythed through him with casual disdain to hand Brentford the first of those two penalty kicks. The acceleration and pace of the German as he cut into the box leaving little alternative but to unceremoniously plough through Brentford’s latest hot property. This lad is going to be very, very good indeed.

It wasn’t just Kevin who was enjoying himself. Ivan was everywhere. Rico and Aaron tearing it up the flanks. Josh Dasilva running through the middle. Brentford, truly dominant but for all the possession couldn’t quite get that second goal. Couldn’t quite take advantage and good though it was, we all know that deserving way more counts for nothing. You need to take the chances that go with the dominance.

Cripes, didn’t Newcastle teach that lesson in the second period?

A much required tactical change all of a sudden saw them become a threat. Saw them able to venture into David Raya’s box. Two goals in the opening quarter – the first when Joelinton fired home via the ‘keeper’s leg and then Aleksander Isak lashing one home in style from the edge of the box – seeing the game flipped on it’s head.

Things could have been worse for the Bees. Minutes later Callum Wilson scored a third, only for VAR to chalk it out for handball. It was the correct call as subsequent viewings suggested. The immediate protests from the Brentford players giving a clear indication that the Newcastle player had controlled the ball with his arm before firing home.

It was the kick up the backside the Bees needed. All of a sudden we were back in the game. Newcastle having thrown the kitchen sink at our defence and now left clinging on to the game. The clock being run down with all the cynical play we’ve seen so many times before. Opposition players collapsing like a top heavy sack of spuds any time a Brentford player was near them. When we had the ball, there they were with all of the physicality we had been so prepared for prior to kick off.

In particular, Isak playing a very wicked game. Unable to cope with Rico Henry or Ethan Pinnock, one brutal challenge on the latter saw him feigning his own ‘injury’, presumably in an attempt to distract the referee from the assault that had taken place before. His eventual recovery an Easter miracle on a par with the resurrection. He wasn’t alone in this approach, either.

Fair play to Newcastle. Referee Chris Kavanagh’s own shortsightedness was a gift to be taken advantage of and they did just that. When we were allowed to play, it was a lock out at the back. Christian Norgaard with the best of the opportunities after Pope could only parry Ivan’s goal bound header. It fell towards the onrushing Dane, just yards out, but sadly there was to be no coming together between ball and boot. Instead, it flew past the Brentford man and off to safety.

Brentford pushed. Brentford probed. Ivan Toney almost levelled it up with the last proper touch of the game but his header found the roof of the net. Instead, Brentford left this one empty handed. Money can’t buy me love, as popular music’s The Beatles once sang, but it certainly can buy you a team with the ability to challenge for the title.

Last time out we were woeful in this fixture and deserved what we got – nothing. This time around, it feels as though football has very much demonstrated how cruel a mistress she can be at times.

The Champions League seems a certainty for Newcastle now. For Brentford, we’re still four points off of sixth place but the European dream would really benefit from getting some points on the board after that rarest of occurrences – back to back defeats for Thomas Frank and his team.

Next up is our trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers. A happy hunting ground last season and fingers will be crossed for more of the same.

All that’s to come but for now, we once again have the main reason for being here. Namely, the season long quest to find our overall top performer aswell as the game by game top five. For me, two players really stood out for Brentford with the star player award being particularly well deserved.

Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 30 (vs Newcastle)

1st (Star Player: 5 points) Kevin Schade
There’s fast. There’s Roadrunner fast. Then there’s Schade fast.

My word, the man’s electric. Talk about wings in his heels. That run though for the first penalty caught Newcastle dead in the water. Botman not even close to the ball and left with no choice but to plough at and through the German with all the subtlety of a brick to the face.

Thomas’ decision to pair him with Ivan was an adventurous call but a brilliant one. Whilst there has been a suspicion a change would be incoming, normal service would have suggested Wissa would be the man given the starting berth in place of Bryan. Instead, it was Schade and didn’t he take it well?

It wasn’t just in the speed, the control or the passing but, as much, the stamina. So far, he’s mostly had the cameo role. Starting before coming off on the sixty minute mark or being introduced from the bench for that final half hour. This time around, we got a full 90 minutes of Kevin running rings around the rest of Eddie Howe’s minions and wasn’t it wonderful to watch? Here’s to more of the same against Wolves

2nd (4 points) – Ivan Toney
It was a close call. Schade tops the pile today but Ivan was breathing right down his neck in the battle for the star player award. He worked so hard and was desperately unlucky to see his opener ruled out after an interminable wait for VAR to kick in. An instinctive striker’s finish ruled out by set squares and rulers.

Then again, VAR was, perhaps, our friend with the award of the second penalty. It had seemed innocuous at the time but the decision went our way. For Ivan to step up and finish so calmly after having finally seen a spot kick saved just minutes before must have taken nerves of steel. Moreso to hit it to the same side as he had done previously.

So he is human after all. One did wonder if the league’s best penalty taker could ever miss but it finally happened. What a reaction though. What a man. Chin up and on he went. The net eventually rippling.

Ivan came so close to levelling it up in the second period with that one at the death looking, for a moment, like it was sending us home happy. Alas, it wasn’t to be but Ivan gave it his all for 90 minutes.

3rd (3 points) – Rico Henry
If Kevin is pacy, Rico’s not far behind. Gave one of those performances where he tore up and down the left flank all game long. Pressing that high line that was so missing against Manchester United during the week.

Whatever you think about the machinations of VAR, he was the right man in the right place to see his attempt at goal interrupted by a wayward challenge from Isak. The Newcastle man did a bad, bad thing. Not for the first time on an afternoon in which Rico made a complete mockery of his opponent’s £63m price tag.

One tackle, turn, spin and run on the 42nd minute deserved to be seen by more than those present in the stadium. Here’s hoping ‘official’ captured that as we get the social media drip feed over the coming days. It was classic Rico on an afternoon where his ability to turn defence into attack down the left flank was seen time and again.

4th (2 points) – Ethan Pinnock
Can he do any wrong at present? Yet another appearance in the top five for a man who is now making it every week. Ethan really has become our most consistent performer and Saturday against Newcastle was no different.

Telescopic legs and assured headers clear. Any time Newcastle got close he was there. Unable to do anything about either goal. How do you legislate for a deflection like that or a ball leathered with such technique?

5th (1 point) – Mathias Jensen
For me, he was the standout of our midfield trio. Had a cracking first half and although the entire team fell off a cliff for the opening 20 or so minutes of the second half, once we rejigged he got that second wind and started pulling the strings once more

Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 30)

All of which means that Ivan Toney stretches his lead at the top once more but just five points separate the next four places. Ben Mee is second, Ethan Pinnock hangs on to his third place but Rico Henry and Mathias Jensen are both chasing them down.

It’s all to play for at Wolves.

1st – Ivan Toney (54 points)
2nd – Ben Mee (49 points)
3rd – Ethan Pinnock (47 points)
4th – Rico Henry (46 points)
5th – Mathias Jensen (44 points)

Follow Nick on Twitter @NickBruzon
2022-23 Brentford Player Ratings – Matchweek 30 vs Nick Bruzon