Newcastle beat Brentford 4-2 to keep European hopes alive

Updated: May 19, 2024, 07:33 pm

Newcastle United's Bruno Guimarães scored and had two assists as his side won 4-2 at Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday to set up a potential return to European football next season if Manchester City win next Saturday's FA Cup Final.

The win over the Bees secured the Magpies a seventh-placed finish, enough to qualify for the Europa Conference League -- unless Manchester United lift the FA Cup, in which case Newcastle's spot will go to sixth-placed Chelsea.

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was pleased with what he described as "a season of progression" despite falling short of last season's top-four finish after injuries to key players.

"If we can get a full squad, fully fit and firing, then I think we've got a really, really good chance of being successful," he told reporters.

Despite Brentford having little to play for, with their top-flight status already confirmed, there was an electric atmosphere at the Gtech Community Stadium before kickoff.

Ivan Toney had the ball in the net inside two minutes but it was ruled out by VAR to extend his barren run to a record 12 league games, with England coach Gareth Southgate in attendance and due to name his European Championship squad on Tuesday.

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Newcastle's Harvey Barnes headed home Guimaraes' cross in the 21st minute before Alexander Isak set up Jacob Murphy to make it 2-0 and then smashed home a Guimaraes through ball in the space of three minutes for the third before the break.

Vitaly Janelt pulled one back shortly after the restart and Yoane Wissa gave Bees fans hope with 20 minutes to play, but Guimaraes ended the contest with a tap-in after 77 minutes.

Brentford end the season in 16th, a creditable achievement after a crippling injury crisis prompted a woeful mid-season run before a late surge guaranteed safety with weeks to spare.

Bees manager Thomas Frank, speaking on the pitch after the game, said: "It has been a tough year but we are still in the best league in the world."