Newcastle United

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Having finished above Manchester United for the first time in the Premier League era, Newcastle must now hope Erik ten Hag's side suffer further disappointment in the FA Cup final next weekend.

Victory for Manchester City against their rivals at Wembley Stadium will confirm the Magpies' place in next year's UEFA Conference League.

In many ways, the entertaining win at Brentford summed up Newcastle's season. Their away form in 2023-24 has left a lot to be desired, and Eddie Howe's team were fortunate not to fall behind when Ivan Toney's early effort was disallowed for offside.

The Magpies were clinical at the other end, however, putting themselves firmly in the driving seat at half-time thanks to goals from Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak.

Vitaly Janelt and Yoanne Wissa scored in the second half as the Bees threatened to mount a second-half fightback, but a close-range effort from Bruno Guimaraes - which came after Newcastle had a penalty downgraded to a free-kick by the video assistant referee (VAR) - completed the scoring.

Given that Howe's team have suffered more than most with injuries this season, a seventh-place finish should be deemed a successful campaign - but European qualification for the second year in succession would be the icing on the cake for the Toon Army.

Image source, PA Media

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the 4-2 win at Brentford: "It summed up our season. We weren't totally secure at the back, but great credit to the players. They've done their job - now we wait and see.

"We anticipated after losing against Manchester United that our control of the [European] situation had gone. It's never a nice situation, but whatever happens, happens.

"We have issues to solve defensively. If we can do that, next season could be another season of really strong performances. This was a season that could have been better, but a good season overall.

"We're a really united club. I think we're still moving forward, so there's a lot to be positive about."

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 Newcastle United 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

We asked for your views on Newcastle United's final game of the season and whether qualification for Europe would define whether it has been a successful campaign or not for Eddie Howe's side.

Here are some of your responses:

Declan: Considering the injuries and bans, Europe doesn't define our success. What our team has accomplished is nothing short of spectacular, taking into account our issues. Over £250m on the treatment table. Manager of the year will go to the man with success. Mr Howe and team deserve it for obstacles overcome!

Peter: European football is an absolute must for Newcastle. Europa League might be gone, but the Conference League would be a fantastic achievement given our injuries and the Sandro Tonali situation this season. Sunday is now a massive game.

Mike: At the start of the season, progress was anywhere upwards of seventh place. Being in the Champions League was going to make it harder than last season. We are pretty much right on that position but after a season of horrific injuries that were never legislated for. So, while potentially eighth will be a disappointing season, we hopefully learn from it.

Ed: As enjoyable as the European ride was, it certainly contributed to the injury-ravaged season. Without some major investment in squad size over the summer, are we sure Europe is actually what we want?

Reece: It wouldn't be the biggest shame to miss out on Europe. It would give Eddie and the team time needed to strengthen the squad and get the boys fit from all of the injuries we have sustained this season. Still a proud Toon Army supporter!

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

Image source, Getty Images

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

The candidates have been chosen by fan writer Pete Davey from LoadedMag NUFC, external.

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

Newcastle United want to sign Arsenal and England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and are willing to pay £15m for the 26-year-old. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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

Joe Nelson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Pictures of Anthony Gordon's Achilles heel were circulating on Wednesday night after Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat caught the Newcastle United winger, with no penalty being given.

There was a hole in the England international's sock and, while being frustrated that the VAR didn't look at the challenge and award a spot-kick, Gordon explained how another Achilles heel of Newcastle's was on display once more.

The Magpies were formidable on the road last term, as their stern defence conceded few goals and helped Howe's team qualify for the Champions League.

This term, however, Newcastle have been leaky.

On the road this is even more evident, with another three goals being scored past them at Old Trafford on Wednesday, while a host of golden opportunities were squandered.

To have any chance of qualifying for the Europa League on Sunday, they must win at Brentford.

"I think we’ve had highlights and had some good performances but it’s summed up by Wednesday where I thought we played OK," said Howe in Friday's news conference.

"The performance generally was good, we created chances and we looked a good team but we weren’t ruthless enough to take the game away from our opponent.

"For next year we have to get that away form right."

Last season, Newcastle lost just three times away from St. James' Park.

In 2023-24, 11 of their 18 trips have ended in defeat, with the Magpies conceding 38 times on the road. That's five more goals than they conceded both home and away (33) throughout the entirety of 2022-23.

Newcastle fans will be hoping Sunday's performance is more like the wins at Burnley and Aston Villa than the defeats at Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says the Magpies' upcoming trip to Australia will not distract from his side's preparation for Sunday's Premier League final day at Brentford.

The Magpies are set to play Tottenham at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday 22 May, after the season has concluded.

Speaking in his news conference on Friday, Howe said: "We will finish the game and get straight on the plane.

"It's a very quick turnaround. We're focusing on this game and that has to take priority.

"Our pre-season training will start early July. We're finalising our last few pre-season games.

"Energy is going into that behind the scenes."

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has been talking to the media before Sunday's final Premier League game of the season at Brentford.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Howe expects Callum Wilson to be available for the Magpies following injury. "We anticipate he will be fit," said Howe.

• Winger Anthony Gordon is a doubt for the match against the Bees, following a knock he sustained at Manchester United on Wednesday: "We'll see how he is today. I'm not 100% sure."

• With Newcastle three points below sixth-placed Chelsea going into the final day, Howe said the importance of winning at Brentford is not lost on his side: "We have to do everything we can to do our part. What we don't want to do is for the other teams to make a mistake and we're not there to capitalise on it."

• While the Magpies are planning for the summer transfer window, with Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo linked with the club, Howe said nothing is set in stone for Newcastle: "We've been finalising the plan. There's a lot of uncertainty over transfers in general, with prices and how much activity there will be. For us, there's a lot that could happen but it's one of those things we'll have to see how it unfolds."

• On the season as a whole, Howe said: "I think we'll look back with a tinge of 'what could have been' in many aspects, whether you're talking the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, the Champions League, the Premier League. I think we've done OK, I think we've done well - but it could have been so different, it could have been even more memorable, so that will be a frustration that will live with me."

• Howe's team are determined to end the season with three points on the road: "It's a big last day for us, there's no denying that. We go into the game knowing we have to do our part, which is win the game. That is no mean feat, it's going to be a tough game, and then we're in the hands of other clubs. The players are determined to finish on a high. We could have got more from the past two games and we didn't."

Follow Friday's Premier League news conferences

Newcastle United's hopes of securing European football for a second season in a row have been blighted by them picking up just one point from their past six available.

Wednesday's defeat at Manchester United means it is now all to play for at Brentford on Sunday, with the Magpies hoping the Red Devils and Chelsea drop points in their respective fixtures.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck discusses Newcastle's difficult season, during which they have struggled away from home and conceded heavily.

"The reason their home form has had to be so good is because their away form has been so poor," Raisbeck told the Total Sport Newcastle United Podcast.

"They have put too much pressure on themselves to win games at St James' Park.

"A place in European football has come down to the final two matches away from home and they should have won at Old Trafford. But it was the same frailties we have seen defensively throughout this season.

"It was the 11th time they have conceded three or more goals this season. That says it all because if you concede three goals in the Premier League, you are almost certainly not going to win the game. That is frustrating.

"Eddie Howe seemed angry after the match and it was the first time I had heard him almost criticise the players. He questioned their mentality and the personnel he uses away from home.

"I would be surprised if there are not quite significant changes on Sunday."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League season finishes on Sunday, with the league champions, qualifiers for European competitions and the third relegated club all yet to be confirmed.

The title

Manchester City start the day two points ahead of Arsenal but with a marginally worse goal difference.

City will be champions:

• If they beat West Ham

• If they draw or lose AND Arsenal fail to win

Arsenal will be champions:

• If they beat Everton AND City fail to win - an Arsenal win and a City draw would hand the title Arsenal on goal difference

The remaining European places

The fifth-place finisher qualifies for the Europa League. For sixth and seventh, it will depend on the outcome of the FA Cup final, the winners of which earn a Europa League place.

If Manchester City win the FA Cup, that Europa League place reverts to the league so the sixth-placed team will play in next season's Europa League, and the seventh-placed team will be in the Europa Conference League.

If Manchester United win the FA Cup, they get in the Europa League wherever they finish, and the highest-placed team not yet qualified for Europe gets the Europa Conference League place.

So let's take it team by team...

Tottenham:

• Will be fifth if they avoid defeat at Sheffield United, or if Chelsea fail to win

• Will be sixth if they lose AND Chelsea win

Chelsea:

• Will be fifth if they beat Bournemouth AND Tottenham lose

• Will be sixth if they win AND Tottenham avoid defeat

• Will be sixth if they draw, regardless of any other results

• Will be seventh if they lose AND Newcastle United win, or if Manchester United win while making up a 16-goal swing in goal difference over the Blues

• Will be eighth if they lose AND Newcastle win AND Manchester United win while making up the aforementioned 16-goal swing

Newcastle:

• Will be sixth if they win at Brentford AND Chelsea lose

• Will be seventh if they win AND Chelsea avoid defeat

• Will be seventh if they draw AND Manchester United fail to win

• Will be seventh if they lose AND Manchester United lose

• Will be eighth if they fail to win AND Manchester United win

Manchester United:

• Will be sixth if they win at Brighton AND Chelsea lose, with United making up an unfathomable 16-goal swing in goal difference on them, AND Newcastle fail to win

• Will be seventh if they better Newcastle's result, if they win and Newcastle fail to win, or if they draw and Newcastle lose

• Will be eighth if Newcastle match their result, if both teams win, draw or lose, or if Manchester United draw and Newcastle avoid defeat - or if Manchester United lose no matter what happens elsewhere

There is a highly unlikely scenario in which Manchester United could overtake Newcastle if both clubs win or both lose. However, it would require an improbable 25-goal swing in goal difference for this to occur. For example, if Newcastle win 1-0, Manchester United would need to win by a margin of 26 goals or more to move above them in the table.

The remaining relegation spot

Luton Town will be relegated unless they beat Fulham AND Nottingham Forest lose at Burnley, while the Hatters would also need to make up a 12-goal swing in goal difference across the two games, which would improbably relegate the Reds instead.

Chelsea and England midfielder Conor Gallagher is not interested in a summer move to Newcastle United, who are long-standing admirers of the 24-year-old. (Football Insider), external

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

• 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.

Wolves are in the news this week for their pursuit of a vote on the scrapping of VAR.

Their wishes drew further scrutiny on Wednesday when Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon found himself in the middle of a contentious call before offering a strong view on the technology after his side went down at Manchester United.

"Modified" is the word when we are talking about VAR going to a vote.

We are still getting to grips with it, but we have seen some good come from it. There have been some instances of indifferent decisions because calls are getting too many looks at them from so many angles.

They still do not know what is a good tackle and what is not. I think they need help from some former players, who have been in that situation and understand what the differences are in those challenges.

We keep talking about different angles and that is not going to go away because with VAR or without it, on certain challenges we would still disagree. You could have two current players in a room and they still would not agree.

It is Wolves' opinion on VAR and if they feel it is not working for them, then you can understand why they are saying to have a go without it again.

Molineux boss Gary O'Neil has been very frustrated, but he has also been balanced and tried to stay quiet. Now he does not want to stay quiet because he feels it does not benefit them and decisions are not going their way.

Overall, we have seen good things from VAR, even if it does bring with it a delay and a wait.

It would be a shame now for it to all go away when we have all the technology in place.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Magpies fans, you go into the final day with the possibility of qualification for the Europa League and the Europa Conference League - but also the chance of missing out on Europe altogether.

What are your thoughts before travelling to Brentford on Sunday?

Is this season defined by Europe or has it still been successful whatever happens?

Have your say here.

We asked for your views on Thursday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Here are some of your responses

Man Utd fans

Dean: It is a great shame a lot of the players did not show up this season like they did on Wednesday. One thing is for sure though, if you give Erik ten Hag the tools to work with, he will deliver.

Peter: Why, oh why, leave it to the penultimate league match to prove they can get it together? I suppose a lot of the players are getting very worried about being sold as nobody else will offer the same sort of wages they have been used to.

Royston: The only positive tonight is the result. Could have gone behind on a few occasions with Newcastle missing clear chances. Yet again United won thanks to individual quality. Similar story all season. I can only hope they are not going to be embarrassed by Manchester City in the cup final. Forget Europe next season and start the rebuild from here.

Ian: I thought we were very lucky as it probably should have been a penalty for Newcastle and we also gave them plenty of chances. Ten Hag is hanging on by the skin of his teeth. No doubt he will have watched a different game though.

Newcastle fans

Steve: As usual Newcastle come out of the blocks flying but if they do not score early they run out of ideas. Too many Championship players in the side, so it is definitely time for a summer sale and build a team that can shine in Europe. Lewis Hall looks a great prospect so it is not all doom.

David: Poor defending yet again. It is just not good enough if you want to play with the big boys. Sort it Eddie!

Rob: We had our fair share of chances including an obvious penalty not given, even by VAR. Unlucky on the night to not at least get a point, but we just needed a bit of luck and better finishing to get a win.

Alex: Trippier looked lazy tonight. Another game where his lapses in concentration have cost us. He was directly at fault for the first goal keeping Mainoo onside and he forgot Garnacho existed leading to the corner for their second. His creative output, as with the run of games before his injury, was severely lacking. Would not be against a sale.