Brentford suffered a first home defeat since September as Newcastle United scored twice in six second-half minutes to take the points at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Thomas Frank’s Bees dominated the first half and deservedly led at the interval. Ivan Toney had already seen a goal disallowed and missed a penalty before he converted from the spot on the stroke of half-time following a foul on Rico Henry.
However, Newcastle were a different side after the break. David Raya diverted Joelinton’s low cross-shot into his own net nine minutes after the restart before Alexander Isak’s fine curling finish on the hour completed the turnaround.
Callum Wilson saw a third goal disallowed for handball while Brentford’s best chance of an equaliser fell to Toney, Nick Pope making a fine low save to beat away his header.
The defeat ended the Bees’ 32-game record of never tasting defeat in a Premier League fixture which they’d led.
Frank shuffles the pack following midweek defeat to Manchester United
Frank made three changes to the side that started at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
Aaron Hickey replaced Mads Roerslev at right wing-back with Josh Dasilva and Kevin Schade restored for Mikkel Damsgaard and Bryan Mbeumo.
Newcastle made two changes from their 5-1 victory over West Ham United on Wednesday, Isak and Joe Willock coming in for Wilson and Alan Saint-Maximin.
Brentford: Raya; Hickey (Mbeumo 74), Jansson (Zanka 16), Mee (Wissa 81), Pinnock, Henry; Norgaard (Janelt 81), Jensen, Dasilva (Baptiste 74); Schade, Toney
Subs not used: Strakosha, Ghoddos, Damsgaard, Roerslev
Newcastle United: Pope; Tripper, Schar, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Joelinton, Longstaff (Wilson 46); Murphy (Gordon 46, Ritchie 90+4), Willock (Anderson 87), Isak (Lascelles 87)
Subs not used: Dubravka, Dummett, Targett, Manquillo
Attendance: 17,107
Toney scores from the spot at the second attempt as Brentford deservedly lead at the break
Brentford started far the brighter of the two sides.
Kieran Trippier was alert to clear Toney’s cutback from inside his own six-yard box after just two minutes. Botman then timed his tackle well to end Schade’s run towards goal.
The Bees thought that their good start had been rewarded after 10 minutes. Pontus Jansson was denied by Pope, and Toney prodded home the rebound from close range, but a VAR check found the England frontman offside from Jansson’s initial header.
Jansson then headed over Rico Henry’s deep cross before he was forced off with a hamstring injury just past the quarter-hour mark.
Newcastle’s sole effort of the first half fell to Sean Longstaff but Ethan Pinnock got in the way and made the block.
Schade’s pace was a constant threat to the Newcastle backline and he used it to devastating effect to earn Brentford their first penalty of the afternoon. He left Fabian Schar in his wake on the right touchline before driving into the box, and Botman’s wild challenge left both players on the floor. Christopher Kavanagh no choice but to point to the spot.
Toney stepped up to take it but, unlike his previous 22 Brentford efforts from the spot, this one didn’t find the back of the net as Pope dropped to his left and made a routine save.
The frontman wouldn’t have to wait long to make amends, however, as on the stroke of half-time, Henry got across the front post to meet a Mathias Jensen corner and was caught by Isak’s high foot.
The initial penalty appeals were waved away but VAR called Christopher Kavanagh over to the monitor and the referee changed his mind and pointed to the spot once again.
Toney went the same way but this penalty had more power and height on it, leaving Pope grasping at thin air as the ball found the corner.
Two goals in six minutes complete Newcastle turnaround
The lead was no less than Brentford deserved for their first-half showing but it was a different game after the break.
Newcastle attacked with much more purpose and turned the game around in a six-minute spell leading up to the hour.
They served an early warning when Botman headed into the arms of Raya from a free-kick.
And their next foray forward brought the equaliser. Joelinton did well to wriggle out of a tight spot on the right-side of the box and cut inside. Raya came out to spread himself and block but could only divert the low cross-shot back into his own net.
The turnaround was complete six minutes later when Callum Wilson teed up Isak for a sumptuous curling finish from the edge of the box.
The away side were well on top now. Raya beat away a fierce Isak drive from 12 yards before United thought they had a third. A corner was helped onto Wilson who swivelled and fired home from eight yards, but a VAR check found that the forward had handled it as he went to control.
That let-off, and the introduction of Wissa, Shandon Baptiste and Bryan Mbeumo, breathed new impetus into the Bees’ search for a leveller. Toney screwed Jensen’s corner wide at the back post before the pair combined again, this time Pope plunged low to beat away Toney’s flicked header from a deep Jensen free-kick.
In their search for an equaliser, Brentford pushed forward, leaving space at the back. Bruno Guimaraes shot over, Wilson lashed off target, and Elliot Anderson rolled tamely into Raya’s arms as the away side tried to take advantage of the counter-attacking opportunities.
Brentford were almost gifted an equaliser in the first minute of injury-time. Pope hared out of his box to head clear a Jensen long ball and didn’t make great contact but recovered to block Mbeumo’s attempt with his body.
The Bees fashioned one last opportunity to grab a point. Jensen was the creator, his fine ball in met by the head of Toney. Brentford’s top scorer diverted it across goal but got slightly too much on it and it looped onto the roof of the net.
The final whistle went seconds later confirming a first home defeat for Brentford in 12 matches.
Frank: We gave everything
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank was pleased with his side's performance despite the defeat.
Zanka: You can’t make mistakes
Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jorgensen was disappointed that Brentford let a one-goal lead slip against Newcastle.