Brentford

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Brentford secured a fourth-successive season of top-flight football, despite being without goalscorer Ivan Toney for half of the season.

Ian Westbrook, from Beesotted podcast, external, has given his verdict on the 2023-24 campaign.

Season rating: 7/10. Our hardest season yet in the Premier League because of the horrendous injury crisis, Ivan Toney's ban and David Raya's departure. Given all that, to stay up comfortably and never be in the bottom three is an impressive achievement.

Happy with your manager? Very. Thomas Frank is the perfect manager for Brentford and the architect of all our recent success. The players clearly love him, the fans love him - and he loves us - and he is constantly overachieving. Last week, in response to rumours linking him to Manchester United, Frank said he hopes to stay with us for many years, and I am sure everybody hopes that will be the case.

Unsung hero: Mads Roerslev. The Dane is always playing second fiddle to other full-backs when they are fit, but this season took part in 34 of our 38 Premier League games with others unavailable. He has grown in confidence to become a very reliable player.

Player you would most like to sign: If Ross Barkley decides to leave Luton Town to try to stay in the Premier League, I think he could be an ideal signing for us to add some more experience to our midfield. While we do not normally sign players aged 30 or above, we made an exception with Pontus Jansson, which proved a brilliant decision, and Barkley’s skill and know-how would definitely help us.

Best away fans: It is often hard to hear the away fans from where I sit at the Gtech, but Newcastle United's supporters on Sunday were definitely among the loudest to have visited us this season.

See how our other fan writers rated their club's season here

Arsenal will trigger their option-to-buy clause for goalkeeper David Raya, making his loan move from Brentford permanent this summer for £27m. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

There are about 24 hours to go before Brentford's player of the season vote closes.

If you are yet to make your choice, you have until 10:00 BST on Wednesday to decide who has impressed you the most from our shortlist.

The candidates have been chosen by fan writer Ian Westbrook from Beesotted podcast, external.

Find out the reasons behind his selections and cast your vote here

After victory in their final match of the season at Brentford on Sunday, we asked for your thoughts on Newcastle's 2023-24 campaign.

Here are some of your responses:

Will: In typical fashion, Newcastle don't like to take the easy route. Saying that, the season has to be seen as a success. With the injuries we've had, to still be in contention for Europe is fantastic. Eddie Howe has made the majority of players better under his guidance. Excited for the summer to see who we bring in.

Alan: Sixth place would have been a great achievement given the horrendous injury list and suspension we have had this season. Slightly disappointing we did not go further in the Carabao Cup but the draws have not been kind to us this year. Overall, it's been a decent season with some big performances. If we get European football again, it's not all bad.

Darren: At the start of the season, I would have taken seventh. With the extra fixtures we were always up against it. The injuries played a part and showed the lack of depth. A strong transfer market is needed to push on for fifth or sixth in 2024-25.

Daniel: I am happy with a seventh place finish for a Conference League spot. Considering all we’ve been through with all our suspensions and injuries, it is quite remarkable. I hope that in the summer transfer window, we can sign some more players for squad depth. Overall, I would say the season has been a success.

Andrew: I predicted seventh at the start of the season for Newcastle. While other fans were demanding another top-four finish, poor squad quality of depth and ridiculous PSR rules meant seventh was always going to more realistic. People quickly forget how much we overachieved last year. New owners said it was a long-term project - and it still is.

Brentford dropped 30 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, which was the most by any club in a campaign since Tottenham in 2007-08 (33).

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Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from the final 10 games of the Premier League season.

If you missed Sunday's Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

Also, listen back to the two BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 3-1 West Ham

• Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth

Goalkeeper David Raya says he has had no discussions with Arsenal about whether they will make his loan move from Brentford permanent. (Express), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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In the words of manager Thomas Frank, Brentford can look back on an "OK" season after securing a fourth successive campaign of Premier League football.

The Bees started brightly against Newcastle and were unfortunate not to take the lead when Ivan Toney's early strike was disallowed for a marginal offside, but the hosts crumbled after Harvey Barnes put the visitors ahead midway through the half.

The Magpies could have been out of sight at the interval, but Brentford threatened to mount a second-half fightback as goals from Vitaly Janelt and Yoanne Wissa gave them hope.

But there was no way back for Frank's team after Bruno Guimaraes restored Newcastle's two-goal advantage with 13 minutes remaining.

Addressing the home fans at full-time, Frank promised his team would "go even bigger" next season after their lowest Premier League finish since returning to the top flight in 2021.

"We've learned a lot, and hopefully we have the foundation to elevate us to more success," said the Dane.

Image source, Reuters

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the 4-2 loss to Newcastle: "We know goals can change the momentum, but we made two big mistakes that basically gave them two goals.

"I've said before, these players are fantastic characters and they showed fantastic mentality to come back into the game. We were close to getting something, but we didn't.

"It's putting things into perspective this season. For a club of our stature, every season in the Premier League is a success. We had a good first season, an even better second season and an OK third season. We've learned a lot and hopefully we have the foundation to elevate us to more success."

On applause for his late father in the 78th minute: "It was really touching. Thank you so much for [the fans'] love, support and dedication throughout the season. It means everything to us."

Here are the key facts and figures from Sunday's game between Brentford and Newcastle United in the Premier League.

• Brentford have lost nine of their past 10 league games against Newcastle (D1), including losing five successive matches against the Magpies. It is the first time they have lost five successive league games to a side since April 2019 against Swansea.

• Newcastle's 85 Premier League goals is their most scored in a top-flight campaign since 1960-61 (86), while they have both scored and conceded in 23 different Premier League games this season for the first time since 2012-13 (also 23).

• Eddie Howe has now won 50 Premier League games in charge of Newcastle in what was his 103rd game (D25 L28). Only Kevin Keegan has reached 50 top-flight wins for the club in fewer games (92).

• Alexander Isak is the first Newcastle player to score at least 25 goals in all competitions in a Premier League season for Newcastle since Alan Shearer in 2003-04 (28).

• Bruno Guimaraes' three goal involvements (one goal, two assists) means he has now been involved in 15 Premier League goals for Newcastle this season (seven goals, eight assists). Along with Isak (23) and Anthony Gordon (21), it is just the second time they have had three players reach 15 or more involvements in a season in the competition after 2001-02 (Shearer, Laurent Robert and Nolberto Solano).

• Brentford's Yoane Wissa has scored eight goals in his past 13 Premier League games, while he is just the second player for the Bees to both score and assist in successive games in the competition after Bryan Mbeumo in October 2023.

Newcastle face a wait to find out whether they will play European football next season after overcoming Brentford to secure seventh place in the Premier League.

The Magpies' win means that a Manchester City victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup final next weekend will confirm their place in the 2024-25 Europa Conference League.

Eddie Howe's team took the lead midway through the first half when Harvey Barnes nodded Bruno Guimaraes' delivery into the roof of the net.

Sean Longstaff had a close-range finish disallowed for offside, before Jacob Murphy converted Alexander Isak's low cross at the far post following an error by Ethan Pinnock.

Isak got on the scoresheet himself moments later, becoming the first Newcastle player since Alan Shearer in 2003-04 to score 21 goals in a Premier League season when he sidefooted Guimaraes' through ball into the far corner.

Vitaly Janelt's first goal since February 2023 reduced the arrears early in the second half, and Yoanne Wissa added a second for Brentford with a fabulous long-range strike into the far corner.

But Guimaraes all-but ended the Bees' hopes of salvaging anything from the game with 13 minutes remaining, firing home the rebound after Mark Flekken had saved Isak's free-kick.

What did you make of the game?

Brentford fans - what lies ahead for your club this summer?, external

Newcastle fans - how content are you with a seventh-place finish?, external

Follow reaction and read the match report

The 2023-24 Premier League season might be drawing to a close, but BBC Sport's dedicated coverage of Brentford will be sticking around for the summer.

From transfer gossip to club news to fan views - we have got you covered.

So make sure you don't miss anything by following your club and signing up to notifications straight to your devices.

After that, all you need to do is keep returning to your club's page throughout the summer - simple!

All 20 teams are in action on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season, with the title winners, European spots and one relegation place still to be confirmed.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Neal Maupay and Sergio Reguilon will return to their respective parent clubs when their loans at Brentford conclude at the end of the Premier League season.

Everton forward Maupay, who scored 41 goals in 95 games for the Bees between 2017 and 2019, rejoined Bees on loan at the beginning of the season.

He has made 30 appearances in all competitions this term and scored eight goals.

Brentford director of football Phil Giles said: "Neal has made a massive contribution to Brentford during both of his spells with the club. He has completely justified the decision to bring him back on loan, contributing important goals and being a key part of the squad.

"Brentford retains the option to bring Neal back permanently if we wish, but we have explained that we will pause that decision for now, having already signed Igor Thiago from Club Brugge."

Left-back Reguilon will return to Tottenham in the summer, having joined Brentford on loan during the January transfer window.

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Shandon Baptiste, Saman Ghoddos and Charlie Goode will leave Brentford this summer at the end of their contracts.

Midfielder Baptiste signed from Oxford United in January 2020 - when the Bees were in the Championship - and has since made 78 appearances for the club.

Fellow midfielder Ghoddos rejoined on a one-year contract last summer and also leaves having played 107 times over his two stints.

Goode, who has spent the second half of this season at Wigan Athletic on loan, departs after four years at Brentford.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend’s final games of the season, he takes on Gladiators star Legend.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Brentford's form has picked up recently and they will want to end the season on a high note at home on the final day.

Their manager Thomas Frank has been linked with the Manchester United job and I understand that in a way, because he has done an excellent job with the Bees.

Newcastle United need to at least match Manchester United's result against Brighton to make sure of finishing seventh.

I'm expecting Eddie Howe's side to do that, but it won't be easy.

Legend's prediction: 2-3

This is going to be a high scoring game because both teams are going to go for it.

Read all of Sutton’s predictions for the final day of the season here

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If you haven't done so already, you have until 10:00 BST on Wednesday, 22 May to cast your vote for Brentford's player of the season from our shortlist.

The candidates have been chosen by fan writer Ian Westbrook from Beesotted podcast, external.

Find out the reasons behind his selections and make your choice here

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva has extended his stay with the Premier League club by signing a new one-year contract, with the option of a further 12 months.

Former Arsenal player Dasilva, 25, joined the Bees in 2018.

He featured in 36 of Brentford's 38 Premier League games in 2022-23 but he has been limited to just five appearances in all competitions this season and has not played since the end of January following surgery on a knee injury.

"Josh has been so unlucky with injuries in recent seasons and hasn't played anything like the number of matches he'd have wanted to," said director of football Phil Giles.

"This makes him and us even more determined to get him back to full health - he has shown amazing mental strength and resilience to take this latest setback in his stride.

"At his best, Josh is a very good Premier League player with attributes that are hard to find elsewhere. I'm sure he'll be back playing at some point in the 2024-25 season and we can't wait for that to happen."

• Brentford have lost each of their past four Premier League games against Newcastle, while they have only faced Crystal Palace more in the competition without ever winning (six) than against the Magpies (five).

• Newcastle have won both of their Premier League away games against Brentford – only against Crystal Palace have they ever won their first three on the road in the competition (first four).

• Brentford have alternated between winning (three) and losing (two) of their final league games in each of the past five seasons - beating Manchester City 1-0 last season.

• Newcastle have only lost their final league game in one of the past nine seasons (W7 D1), going down 3-1 at home to Liverpool in 2019-20.