Guimaraes double helps resurgent Newcastle win 5-1 over Brentford

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:53 am

Two goals from Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes helped his side to a 5-1 win over Brentford at St. James' Park on Saturday to move them up to fifth in the Premier League, a year and a day after the Saudi Arabia-backed takeover of the club.

Bryan Mbeumo had a 10th-minute goal for the visitors chalked off after a VAR review found Ivan Toney to be offside in the build-up, and 11 minutes later Guimaraes stooped to score with a superb header from Kieran Trippier's cross in the 21st minute.

Jacob Murphy added a second shortly afterwards as Brentford's defence came unstuck while trying to play out from the back, with Callum Wilson snapping up a loose ball and squaring to Murphy, who slammed the ball home first-time.

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Ivan Toney scored from the penalty spot after a handball by Dan Burn, but a second goal for Guimaraes, a Miguel Almiron strike and an own goal by Ethan Pinnock sealed an emphatic victory for the home side.

Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game
Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game
Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images

The win lifts Newcastle, who were 19th when the takeover was sealed on Oct. 7th last year, to fifth spot in the table on 14 points, four ahead of 12th-placed Brentford. 

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: "We were pleased with today. It as a really tough game and we knew they would make it difficult for us. We had a slow start but responded to that with the first goal and that changed it for us.

"Bruno [Guimaraes] is top quality in every aspect, his personality and performances on the pitch. He was outstanding today.

"We have had a number of injuries, we have managed to ride that storm. Hopefully a very good day for us."

Brentford manager Thomas Frank said: "In general I never thought we would concede five goals, we did today. In life and football it is about how you respond to set backs.

"If you want to win football matches it is relatively important you don't make one, two, three, or four mistakes leading to goals. To make four mistakes then you lose football games and basically that is it.

"I am a big believer that if you lose 5-1 then don't complain but first goals in games can shift the momentum. I was looking at our stats that when we went in front in the Premier League 13 times we won 11 them.

"We are of course fuming. I can feel my anger bursting around inside me. It is the same as the players and we will bounce back."