Brentford

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to Sky Sports: "Proud of the performance, happy with the players' performance and I think, besides the first moment and the last minute, I felt we kept them quiet first half.

"Ethan [Pinnock] went close to scoring and, unfortunately, [Sandro] Tonali scores from a cross. That is one-in-a-million and then in the end we had good chances. We performed well and then the fine margins didn't go our way.

"Even game, could have gone either way but unfortunately we didn't.

"The last one I don't think it was a penalty but the first one I think it was."

On Bryan Mbeumo scoring again: "First with Ivan [Toney] I said we had the best penalty taker in the world and with Bryan, if not the best, we have the second best.

"If we keep performing like this, I think we will be in a good position at the end of the season. Hopefully we get five straight home wins now."

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo has been directly involved in eight goals (five goals, three assists) in his six Premier League away games in 2025 - no player has more goals and assists on the road in the competition this calendar year.

Mbeumo has also scored all 10 of the penalties he's taken in the Premier League, only Yaya Toure (11/11) has a better 100% ratio in the competition's history.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

So, Brentford's incredible run of away wins is over.

Newcastle proved a bridge too far after Thomas Frank's side had made easy work of winning at Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Leicester and Bournemouth since the start of 2025.

The Bees certainly made the Carabao Cup winners work hard for the points on Wednesday.

Had Ethan Pinnock's header - when the score was 1-1 - hit the net instead of the post then it could have been a very different outcome.

Instead, Brentford return to London knowing they must address issues closer to home.

While they have been impressive on the road lately, Frank's side have not won at home in the Premier League since defeating Newcastle 4-2 on 7 December.

Brentford are all but certain of a fifth successive season in the top-flight.

The question is: will they secure a second top-half finish in three seasons?

Beat local rivals Chelsea at home on Sunday (14:00 BST) and this defeat at Newcastle will quickly be forgotten.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo, speaking to Premier League Productions: "It is a hard one tonight and we deserved more.

"It was good performance but at the end it was not enough. I think we knew it was going to be a tough game against a very good side and at the end it was a bit frustrating. It is hard to take.

"We knew it is important to get the points away. It is always tough to come here. It is really tight and we are going to give it our best game by game and see where it takes us."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

Six matches make up Wednesday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Bournemouth v Ipswich

• Brighton v Aston Villa

• Man City v Leicester City

• Newcastle v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Southampton v Crystal Palace

• Liverpool v Everton (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the one thing no-one is talking about at Brentford, but really should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Mitch: My feeling is there absolutely must be something to play for: pride, passion, keeping the name of this club on everyone's lips. But... I've watched too many end of season games where the players are 'on the beach' - Leeds a couple of seasons back, a prime example. We, the fans, are turning up to watch our best players play to their best level against whomever they're playing. If the players are not bothered, then why should we be?

Charlie: I reckon we give it our absolute all for the past nine games with nothing to lose as we're already safe and have been for a while now. So why not go for a European place? Knowing my Brentford, we've been planning for next season for a while now. We're always prepared for whatever obstacles get in our way whether it's a player potentially leaving etc. I couldn't be prouder of my club anymore with what we've done since being in the Premier League. We haven't looked out of the place since the first game against Arsenal a few years ago. I'm very confident in saying that we are the best run club from top to bottom in the country. Let's be having ya!

Tom: We're finally going to have some full-backs! Fingers crossed Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey will be back with the first team in the coming weeks. It's been more than 500 days since they last played together so it'll be a long awaited reward.

Cliff: Clubs like Brighton and Bournemouth are regularly discussed in the debate for European places but Brentford have been almost totally ignored. We have a tough month of fixtures but we're only a handful of places off a Europa League place so don't write off our season.

Philip: Our owner Matthew Benham is looking to sell a minority stake in the club. This will raise a very substantial sum without it burdening us with debt. This will allow potentially larger investment in players to take us to the next level in the coming years. An amazing position for Brentford football club to be in.

Chris: Again it's the injuries. We still have Mathias Jensen, Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Igor Thiago, Gustavo Nunes and Henry out of action. Thiago has barely played and Nunes not at all since they were bought last summer. Once we have a fully-fit squad, we can challenge anyone but those days seem increasingly rare.

Have Newcastle stopped celebrating yet? They have been on the lash for a long time after winning the Carabao Cup, culminating - for some of their fans anyway - with their trophy parade on Saturday. I am sure the players have sunk a few too.

It showed how much the club's success means to the city, but now they have to focus on the rest of the season, because getting back into the Champions League would be massive for what comes next for Eddie Howe's side, and how they are viewed across Europe.

There will be a fantastic atmosphere at this game too, but the danger with that is we know Brentford are capable of spoiling anyone's party with their attacking threat.

Howe has tried to address that by speaking about the need to finish the campaign strongly, and this is a great example of where his side cannot afford to take their eye off the ball.

I suspect they will come out of the traps very quickly against Brentford, lifted by the crowd, and go a couple of goals up before the weekend starts to take its toll on them and the fans too.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have won their past five Premier League away games - the longest winning run on the road by any side in 2024-25. Only one side has won six successive away games in which they began the day outside of the top 10 in the competition - Arsenal from December 2020 to May 2021.

Excluding own goals, Brentford have scored from their first shot of a match nine times in the Premier League this season - the most of any side. Meanwhile, Newcastle have conceded the first shot they have faced nine times - also a league-high figure.

Another very solid Premier League season is in the offing for Brentford but, without diminishing what is a continually impressive achievement, with nine games left to play there is relatively little to fight for aside from a top-half finish.

Are attentions turning to next season? Or is there still life to be squeezed out of the current campaign?

You know your club best, so tell us: what is the one thing no-one is talking about at Brentford, but really should be?

Let us know here

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Newcastle (kick-off 19:45 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The Brentford squad to face Newcastle is looking "quite positive", with full-back Michael Kayode available for selection again after a knee injury. However, Mathias Jensen "is not ready yet" after a recent illness meant he missed some training.

• Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Gustavo Nunes all featured in the Bees' under-21s match on Monday, but Frank confirmed it is "too short for them to be involved" on Wednesday: "All three looked good and ticked the physical boxes."

• He added: "Rico is the one who is furthest ahead of the three - I think he is close to returning to the squad. It could be for Chelsea [on Sunday], but let's see. Hickey is on track. He had some minor pain which limited his minutes - we're being extra cautious."

• On longer-term knee injuries for Igor Thiago and Josh Dasilva: "Thiago is progressing - going a little bit slower, but progressing. He is building the muscle volume and strength around the knee to make sure he ticks all of the strength markers. He is running, and he is also part training, so it's moving forward. Josh Dasilva is a little bit further off it than Igor."

• Frank said it was "extremely important" Christian Norgaard signed a new deal with the club: "We've done quite well in the Premier League in the past four years and he's been an integral part of that. A big reason why we have done OK is our culture, and Norgaard is a big driver of that, on and off the pitch. At a club, there will always be transition of players in and out, but it's also important to have some stability."

• He added: "Maybe this season is his best so far... Sometimes, you don't see it or recognise it as much when you are a holding midfielder, but he is so important in terms of breaking up play, interceptions and playing forward when you win the ball back. This season, he has quite a few goals and assists, too."

• On facing Carabao Cup winners Newcastle at St James' Park: "I hope they had an unbelievable party because they deserved it. It's their first major cup in almost a lifetime. It's an incredible achievement for them and I'm really happy on their behalf. I'm pretty sure they will come flying out under the floodlights for a celebration."

Listen to full commentary of Newcastle v Brentford on the BBC Sport website and app from 19:45 on Wednesday

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

It was a big weekend for Brentford - even though we were not playing - with the announcement of the tremendous news that captain Christian Norgaard has signed a new two-year contract.

I have mentioned before in this column that tying down Norgaard to a new deal was vital. His contract was due to run out in the summer, and although the club had an option for another year, the fact there had been no news on what was happening was alarming for us fans.

Norgaard has played a vital role in his almost six years at the club, making nearly 200 appearances in all competitions and being named captain in the summer of 2023.

His importance to the side can be shown by the fact that we have failed to win any of the four Premier League games he has missed this season, and only won two of the seven in which he was absent in the last campaign.

He is the glue that holds the side together in his defensive midfield role, protecting the defence, winning tackles and setting up attacks. This season he has also become a more regular goalscorer - with his five in all competitions (four in the Premier League) almost a third of his entire total of 17 for the club. We are a much weaker team without him.

It is also clear what a close relationship he has with Thomas Frank, who he previously worked with for both Brondby and youth level national sides for Denmark.

Norgaard joins compatriot Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter and Aaron Hickey in signing new contracts in 2025.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford captain Christian Norgaard has signed a new two-year deal with the club which will run until the summer of 2027.

The Denmark international joined the club in the summer of 2019 and has gone on to make 187 appearances, scoring 12 goals.

Speaking to the club's official website about the midfielder's new deal, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank said: "This new contract was a no-brainer for us and Christian."

"Christian has been an integral part of the fantastic journey we have been on these past six years. He is our club captain and one of our most important players.

"The first time I coached Christian, he was a number 10; now he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.

"I'm very happy. Hopefully we can continue to be successful together with Christian leading the team."

Image source, Getty Images

Premier League clubs have agreed the dates for the summer transfer window.

The window will open early, between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the Fifa Club World Cup.

It will then reopen on Monday 16 June and close on Monday 1 September.

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

We have been asked this week to say who at our club needs to step up for the rest of the season.

Nobody at Brentford has really been playing poorly this campaign - but as I have to pick someone, one man who could improve in a certain area is Kevin Schade.

There is no doubt that this is his best season for the Bees so far. He has played in every league game - starting 17 and coming on as a substitute in the other 12 - and is third top scorer with seven goals. He also has two assists to his name.

Schade has also taken on the role previously undertaken by Ivan Toney of being the target for goal-kicks or goalkeeper clearances when we go long, as he is great in the air and wins those flick-ons.

However, the area in which he could do better is his decision-making.

Schade is a brilliant, instinctive player - it seems that when he doesn't have time to think, the quality of his finishes is superb. Good recent examples of this came when he scored at both Southampton and Crystal Palace.

However, when he runs at defences down the left wing and gets into the area, the extra time to think almost gives him too much choice and often he gets caught trying to decide whether to shoot or cross - and ends up doing neither.

You end up thinking that if he received a pass in the area, rather than running in there himself, what he did next with the ball would be of high quality.

Despite this, there is no doubt that Schade, our record signing when joining in 2023, is a huge talent.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked which two players have appeared in the most Premier League wins for Brentford.

Vitaly Janelt and Bryan Mbeumo have both played in 47 Bees victories, with Yoane Wissa close behind on 45.

Which two players have appeared in the most Premier League wins for Brentford?

Come back to this page on Friday afternoon for the answer

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have agreed a strategic partnership with Portugese Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente aimed at "sharing knowledge and improving player development".

A delegation from the Gil Vicente visited the Gtech Community Stadium and the Bees' training ground to discuss topics including football strategy, recruitment, coaching, communications, marketing and fan engagement.

Brentford technical director Lee Dykes said: "Football is always evolving, and one way to improve is by sharing knowledge.

"Gil Vicente has a proud history and are well-respected for their youth development, their resilience and their community spirit. This visit is an opportunity to exchange ideas, challenge each other, and most importantly, to learn.

"This partnership with Gil Vicente will help us improve all aspects of our player development model and allow us to have a close relationship with a well-respected club in Portugal which is a thriving football country."

Gil Vicente president Rui Silva added: "A partnership with a club competing in the world's most challenging league represents a unique opportunity to elevate our structure.

"Brentford has been a reference in data, player recruitment and development, as well as in its relationship with fans. These values align perfectly with our vision for the future of Gil Vicente."

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford's achievement in notching up 50 Premier League wins in under four seasons in the competition - by beating Bournemouth on Saturday - should not be underestimated.

Only 10 clubs* have reached this landmark quicker than the Bees. All of them were original Premier League members and all got to their half-century before the end of 1995, meaning we are the first promoted side to do it this quickly.

On top of that, Brentford have still not spent a single second in the relegation zone in our time in the division – another great feat bearing in mind the struggles of promoted clubs in the past couple of years.

In the all-time Premier League table, our points per game total is 1.294 - putting us 12th of the 51 clubs who have played in the competition.

Continuity is the key to a lot of this. Thomas Frank, now the Premier League's second longest-serving manager behind Pep Guardiola, of course has been there throughout, as have several of his players.

Four of the starting XI which won at Vitality Stadium - the spine of the team in fact - signed for us in the Championship. They are: centre-half Ethan Pinnock, midfielders Christian Norgaard and Vitaly Janelt, and attacker Bryan Mbeumo.

Rico Henry and Mathias Jensen would also have probably figured on Saturday but for injury and illness, while another Championship signing, Josh Dasilva, is still recovering from a long injury lay-off.

These are heady days to be a Brentford fan - and long may it continue!

*The first 10 teams to reach 50 Premier League wins were Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham and Wimbledon.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

In a wide-ranging chat with BBC Radio 5 Live's Rick Edwards alongside club psychologist Michael Caulfield, Thomas Frank has opened up on how he deals with the pressure's of elite football management.

"For me, football is everything and nothing," he said. "I'm devastated after we lose, I'm irritated and every single fibre in my body hurts after the game because I'm irritated in different ways.

"But, on the flip side coming in on a Monday there's hope again. I'm working with good people and I believe and dream again and go one more time.

"I know what's the most important thing for me - family and friends."

Caulfield has been at the club since 2016, around the same time Frank arrived as assistant head coach, and believes the relationship between the two has developed naturally over time.

"When you're in this it's not friendships at the minute because we're too busy, too committed," he said.

"And we are genuinely committed to what we are trying to do. A lot of trust has been developed and it hasn't been through force.

"You've got this Danish person and British person who had never met before and eight years later something has happened. I don't want to overthink it because like any good relationship it just happens.

"I know when to talk to Thomas and vice versa and when to leave him alone. We've worked out a way of handling each other because football is so totally irrational and completely emotional.

"There's a lot of trust, a lot of empathy, a lot of understanding. I like to think one skill I do have is to know when to shut up and leave a room."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds