3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Brentford 2 Newcastle 4

Sunday afternoon’s match ended Brentford 2 Newcastle 4.

Ahead of each match we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

Newcastle United blowing Brentford away in the first half with a three goal blast.

The home side then threatening to make a game out of it, before Bruno swiftly put it to bed.

Plenty to talk about after this one…

On this occasion it is Sam Hepworth:

POSITIVES

World class

I thought Newcastle United played well overall, the whole team contributing.

However, we are talking world class players in Bruno and Alexander Isak.

What equals a world class player? Well, there is no exact definition, that I know of at least.

For me though they are amongst the very top performers in the Premier League and are both worth £100m+ in today’s market, so I would say that ticks the world class box.

Goal power

The numbers don’t lie.

Newcastle scored 68 Premier League goals last season and 85 this time, 17 more.

Plus NUFC scored 100+ (102) goals in all competitions for the first time since 1960/61.

If anybody thinks the biggest transfer essential in the summer is a centre-forward, they are having a laugh.

Incredible goalscoring across our midfield and attack, despite countless injuries.

I’m your number one fan

Nick Pope, a class act.

I can’t believe how much more relaxed I was when I was watching the game.

A very good save with his foot from a Toney header early on, then an ever better one when diving low to keep out a header from the same striker.

Pope had no chance with the two goals and for me, Dubravka concedes one of those other two for sure, plus would have had the defence panicking as usual throughout the match.

NEGATIVES

Weak at the back

No so much a criticism of how the defence played on Saturday, I think they did ok.

Brentford scored two very good goals.

This is more a recognition of the fact that the goals conceded has gone up from 33 in the Premier League last season to 62 this time, 29 more.

Pope’s injury in particular has been a nightmare but a combination of fit again players and new signings have to get us back closer to that 33 conceded figure, if NUFC are to be successful.

What might have been

Seeing the likes of Pope and Joelinton starting, with Almiron, Wilson and Trippier off the bench, you can’t help but think.

Such cruel luck with so many players missing so often and where would we have been with slightly less of a catastrophic injury situation.

Villa finished only eight points above Newcastle United and we thrashed them twice and had a much better goal difference.

End of the season

It has been an exhausting one, for players AND fans.

However, when the realisation does sink in that there will be no proper football for three months now…

I can’t wait for August and it all kicking off again!

Stats via BBC Sport:

Brentford 2 Newcastle 4 – Sunday 19 May 4pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Barnes 21, Murphy 36, Isak 38, Bruno 77

Brentford:

Janelt 48, Wissa 70

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Brentford 53% (54%) Newcastle 47% (46%)

Total shots were Brentford 10 (3) Newcastle 12 (8)

Shots on target were Brentford 5 (1) Newcastle 7 (5)

Corners were Brentford 3 (1) Newcastle 0 (0)

Touches in the box Brentford 12 (5) Newcastle 29 (19)

Newcastle team v Brentford:

Pope; Krafth, Schar (Dummett 90+2), Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton (Trippier 81); J Murphy (Almiron 68), Isak (Wilson 81), Barnes (Anderson 68)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Ritchie, White, A Murphy

(Brentford 2 Newcastle 4 – Instant Newcastle United fan / writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Match Report : Brentford 2 Newcastle 4 – Brazilliance in the sunshine – Read HERE)