Another brutal away day for Newcastle United, as we threw away a 1-0 lead in a 3-1 defeat at Brentford after some awful game management in the second half.
Here are our marks out of 10 and comments on each player involved:
Starting 11
Pope (4.5) – Saw the best and worst of Pope today, although it was mainly the latter in the end. Some crucial saves intertwined with some awful decision making, which ultimately led to the equaliser as he got himself in no man’s land for Schade’s header. Went off injured after a heavy fall.
Trippier (5) – Put in a decent shift defensively but was wasteful late on with his set pieces. Guilty of playing sideways far too often.
Thiaw (7) – The only Newcastle player that didn’t let his standards drop today. Unfortunate to set up Brentford’s third goal with a great tackle and was the pick of the defenders. Ability to pick a pass to break the lines is a real highlight, but we never made the most of it.
Botman (4) – Completely switched off for the third and decisive goal when he was caught daydreaming. Made a couple of important tackles but was far from his best.
Burn (3.5) – Could see a second yellow card coming a mile away. Got away with one earlier but inexplicably wasn’t protected and ultimately conceded the penalty and got his red card. Out of his depth today, struggling both defensively and on the ball, where he lost possession 18 times.
Joelinton (N/A) – Went off injured in the first half with a leg injury. Perhaps wearing proper shin pads might’ve prevented it? Sloppy, on and off the ball, before he was forced off.
Guimaraes (5.5) – Cut a frustrated figure and never got a foothold in the game. More has to be expected from our captain from a creative and game management aspect. Consecutive weeks of throwing away a lead leads to questions about the midfield not controlling the game.
Tonali (5) – Not at the races today. Sloppy attempts at one touch passes went astray in the first half and the usual dynamism and quality from him was missing.
Murphy (5) – Threw some good balls into the box and linked up nicely with Woltemade on the odd occasions but his limitations as a winger were also on show. Went missing in the game too often.
Barnes (6.5) – Amazing goal to open the scoring in the first half showing great composure to sit 2 defenders down before rifling home. Had a decent volley in the second half and was at least threatening the brentford backline.
Woltemade (5) – His usual hold up play deserted him as he lost possession with uncharacteristic regularity. Showed a couple of glimpses but was largely a passenger.
Substitutes
Ramsey (5) – Got caught in possession early in the second half which set the tone for how the half would pan out. Yet to really show what he can do and needs a breakout performance quickly.
Ramsdale (6) – First touch was to pick the ball out of the net on his Premier League debut. Did well to deny Brentford a fourth and offered a useful outlet in possession when reduced to ten men.
Willock (4) – Much like the other midfielders, offered very little which has unfortunately become an all too common phrase when describing him.
Elanga (4.5) – Just not happening for him. Berated by Trippier late on for not presenting as an option down the wing but rather coming inside into traffic. Almost got on the end of Hall’s cross towards the end.
Hall (6.5) – Actually showed some quality when he came on and will now start against Man City with Burn’s suspension.
Miley (NR)
Takes a lot for me to get annoyed at newcastle utd. Pope’s position for that 1st goal though good God lad what are you doing all the way out there.
Maybe time to start looking for a long term replacement. I’d also drop botman and bring in hall
Shhhhh(Quote)
Thiaw and Hall only players to hold their heads up, big fan of Eddie Howe and we all make mistakes but it was glaring today, burn should have been subbed after he got away with the first pen decision and Hall come on.
MorpethMag(Quote)
Don’t disagree with that, is Botman thinking of a move away? He came out in support of Isak, if he is then let him go.
MorpethMag(Quote)
Every time our front three get the ball they’re facing the wrong way. The passing is predictable. Pope can’t kick the ball well enough. He doesn’t look confident. Burn cannot play left back permanently. And we should have an alternative solution when Hall is injured.
Why does it have to be Burn every time. Surely one of the others at the club can step up. The club have had 4 years to develop young players to come through.
Why can’t we change the way we play? At 1-0 Barnes got free in the box, Waltemade took both centre halves with him and left a big gap 10 yards out Barnes put it on a plate and no one was there. No Murphy, Tonali, Ramsey,
Bruno. Not one through ball rolled in behind on their high press.
Finally they are the worst crossers of a ball I have seen. Not one got over 3 foot off the deck.
Rubbish.
The little birdy(Quote)
Got a lot of flack from my mates when I said this at the start of the season but I stand by it, we can’t hack the amount of games (YET!). Champions League, Europa, Domestic Cups and League. We just don’t have the side for that yet. So we need to pick a focus, which I think had become Champions League and Cups this time round. The grief I got was it sounds like I’m saying we’re not good, I’m not! I’m saying we aren’t at that level yet. People seem to forget it took Man City a good 8 years or so to become as dominant as they did. Have high standards but be realistic is all I’m saying. 5 years time it’ll be a different story.
Dontshootthemessenger(Quote)
Europa? Think you need to look at the fixtures again.
Wat?!(Quote)
Howe out. Thank you very much for everything, but it’s time for a change. It’s turned into a shambles. 4 away league wins in the whole of 2025. Southampton, Leicester, West Ham and Tottenham. Gordon hasn’t got a goal or an assist in 19 league games.
When there are injuries (Hall, Livramento, Wissa), Howe struggles. He lacks imagination. He just keeps going for 4-3-3 with Burn at LB, the same midfield 3, and Woltemade up front on his own. Howe prides himself on attacking and pressing. Elanga is not an attacking player, he’s a counter-attacking player. Woltemade is too slow to lead a press. Bruno excels at playing balls in behind for fast forwards like Isak.
Howe can’t adapt to make it work. Yes, things will probably improve when/if Hall, Livramento and Wissa are fit. But that’s not good enough. Howe should be able to adapt. He should be able to try to different things, particularly when what he is trying (over and over) is not working.
If Ramsey and Elanga aren’t good enough to start in this team, when it’s playing so badly, then that’s not £95m well spent.
I could go on.
Howe out. But thank you for everything.
Howe out(Quote)
Oh dear he’s back
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
This is genuinely the first time I’ve written a message on this site — because it’s time. It’s all over the place man. He’s had more than enough time to change it and try other things.
Howe out(Quote)
Genuinely hope Howe can turn it around, as much of a fan I am of him, my concern of him bring way to overly loyal is sadly biting him on the ****.
Darren Bebb(Quote)
A woeful game Dan Burn gets away with first pen why did he not bring hall on then dont think his mind is on the job and the players he fetch in have been worse than rubbish. The backs again were shocking Eddie Howe says his fault but that does not give us three points think time to sell what we can and rebuild but do not let eddie tell us who he wants the players have been absolute …. IF YOU CANNOT DO THE JOB LEAVE.
Keith Richardson(Quote)
Any Howe Out crack is total madness and not worthy of any other comment.
davewallace(Quote)
Howe and the coaching staff game awareness, player awareness and tactical awareness get a big fat zero, what match were they watching?
Don’t blame Burn as he just isn’t a left back and was found out again with Howe just watching on again.
Howe could have gone to a back 5 after Burn nearly gave away a penalty bringing on Hall or swapping Burn for Hall.
Pope punching too often and going for that ball over his defenders was nothing short of stupidness which led to the first goal.
The midfield is just not working as a unit with Bruno further forward as he has no pace to worry defenders and loses possession too often, won’t even mention Joelinton as he is not worth it and Tonali is now getting dragged down into the mire.
Woltemade needs to get into the box or put Burn or Schar in there as he offers no target or threat.
Taking Barnes off, the only player who looked half capable of doing something just sums up another mismanagement catastrophe away from home, f****** clueless!
Murphy he is like a light switch but mostly off, but we do have Elanga so that’s why he is playing.
Thiaw another solid performance and Hall showed why he should have been brought on sooner.
5 shots to Brentford’s 15 mathematically reflects the scoreline but not how bad we were.
Joseph(Quote)
Agree with a lot of the comments here. Relieved it’s not just me thinking it. Burn, Schar, Thiaw and Botman are all good options for CB, so why not play 3 of them? Then play a RWB and a LWB. Sure, without Hall and Livramento, that’s difficult. But may as well try it considering how the current set-up is doing and has been doing for a long time (4 away league wins in the whole of 2025 and 2 of those teams are now in the Championship). Why play the same midfield 3 when they are getting dominated in basically every league game? Why not try playing on the counter-attack when Gordon and Elanga are two of the fastest wingers in the league?
Sick of it.
Howe out(Quote)
I’m not sure how Tripps got a mark of 5. He was woeful. Gave the ball away over and over again. He has to go for an all or nothing tackle every time to defend as he’s lost all his pace. And he offers almost nothing going forward anymore. He was a great signing but sadly his time at this level is well and truly over.
I was excited to see Ramsey today but it wasn’t a great game for him. Tonali was not near his usual standard either.
Great to see a cameo from Hall – he did really well. Thiaw was outstanding, especially given the performance of everyone around him.
Howe the toon(Quote)
2 points from relegation with Man City,,Chelsea,spurs,Everton man utd to play along with Fulham and burnley….
Howe did we get here ?
Mike(Quote)
I was screaming at the TV, get burn off. He’s getting slaughtered!
Luke(Quote)