Brentford’s 2023/24 Premier League campaign ended with a 4-2 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
Vitaly Janelt and Yoane Wissa netted after the break as the Bees looked to overturn a three-goal deficit at Gtech Community Stadium, but Bruno Guimarães added the Magpies’ fourth to dampen any hopes of a dramatic comeback on the final day.
Barnes, Murphy and Isak on the scoresheet as Brentford trail by three at the break; Toney opener overturned by VAR
Thomas Frank made four changes to the side that beat Bournemouth 2-1 the previous weekend: Mads Roerslev, Zanka, Mathias Jensen and Yoane Wissa came in for Kristoffer Ajer, Nathan Collins, Mikkel Damsgaard and Keane Lewis-Potter.
January signing Yunus Emre Konak was named in a matchday squad for the first time.
Brentford had the ball in the back of the net inside the opening three minutes.
Roerslev worked the ball inside to Jensen, who released Bryan Mbeumo beyond the Newcastle backline.
The Cameroon international left Lewis Hall in his wake and his low cross set up Ivan Toney for a simple finish, but VAR overturned the goal for a Jensen offside in the build-up.
The pair combined again six minutes later. Mbeumo capitalised on a poor touch from Hall, advanced into the area and played a through ball for Toney who was denied by the outstretched leg of Nick Pope.
Moments later, Joelinton missed the target with the goal gaping after Alexander Isak got the better of Ethan Pinnock down the right and delivered low across the box.
The visitors took the lead on 21 minutes. Bruno Guimarães, on the right of the area, was found by Jacob Murphy and whipped a cross to the back post for Harvey Barnes, who beat Mark Flekken with a stooping header.
Newcastle thought they had doubled their lead four minutes later. Sean Longstaff drilled home from 12 yards having been teed up by Isak, but the striker had strayed narrowly offside to receive a through ball from Barnes earlier in the move.
Eddie Howe’s side then pulled away with two goals in as many minutes.
Pinnock, the Bees’ last man, failed to clear his lines and Isak advanced on goal. Reguilón raced across to cover, leaving Murphy with a tap in at the back post.
Seconds after the restart, Murphy robbed Reguilón and worked the ball inside to Guimarães. The Brazilian slipped Isak through with an inch-perfect pass and the striker let the ball run through his legs before finding the far corner.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Flekken got down to his right and showed a strong wrist to prevent Isak from scoring a second.
The final chance of the half fell to the Bees; Reguilón advanced to the byline and lifted a cross into the box for Wissa, who headed over the crossbar.
Guimarães goal halts Bees' momentum after Janelt and Wissa reduce the deficit
The Bees began the second half on the front foot. Christian Nørgaard, having peeled off to the left, crossed into the box and Wissa’s glancing header dropped inches wide of the post.
Moments later, Janelt gave Brentford a lifeline.
Wissa, found inside the area by Jensen, looked after the ball well and slid across to the German, who beat Pope with a side-footed finish.
On 61 minutes, Fabian Schär’s free-kick from the edge of the area deflected into the path of Isak and the striker dragged wide of Flekken’s right post.
At the other end, Pope clawed away Toney’s downward header following Roerslev’s delivery from the right.
The Bees scored a second on 70 minutes and it was a goal of real quality.
Flekken’s long kick was flicked on by Toney and Wissa brought the ball under his spell. The DR Congo international wriggled beyond two defenders on his way to the edge of the box and his curling effort found the net via the inside of the post.
Newcastle thought they had a penalty five minutes later as Hall went down under the challenge of Mbeumo, but VAR deemed the contact to be just outside the box. The visitors still seized their opportunity as the resulting free-kick was parried by Flekken and Guimarães reacted fastest to slam home on the rebound.
In the final minute of normal time, Pope dropped down to hold substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk’s close-range header.
Toney blasted a free-kick over the bar with the final kick of the game, as the referee’s whistle brought Brentford’s third Premier League season to a close.
Brentford (4-3-3): Flekken; Roerslev (Ghoddos 63), Zanka, Pinnock, Reguilón (Maupay 74); Nørgaard, Janelt (Schade 74), Jensen (Damsgaard 64); Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa (Yarmoliuk 83)
Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Lewis-Potter, Trevitt, Konak
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Pope; Krafth, Schär (Dummett 90+2), Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimarães, Joelinton (Trippier 81); Murphy (Almirón 68), Isak (Wilson 81), Barnes (Anderson 68)
Subs not used: Dúbravka, Ritchie, White, Murphy
Attendance: 17,124
Frank: We were very close to getting something
Head coach Thomas Frank admitted he was frustrated to end the campaign with a defeat but praised his side’s character.
“It was entertaining but it’s more fun to end on the right end of the result,” said the Bees boss.
“Until the first goal I thought we were the better side. Then they scored and momentum changed a tiny bit.
“Then they scored two goals. It was two mistakes from us; that happens unfortunately.
“During the second half the players showed a character and mentality that was impressive in many ways.
“We managed to come back into the game, and we were very close to getting something out of it.”
Maupay: Every good thing comes to an end
Brentford centre-forward Neal Maupay has reflected on his final game in a Bees shirt, as he came on as a substitute in Sunday's defeat to Newcastle.
The striker, in his second spell at the club, got a superb reception from the home supporters as he replaced Sergio Reguilón, after it was revealed that he would return to his parent club Everton upon the expiry of his loan in west London.
“I really appreciate and I've been very lucky to receive the support and the love they’ve given me, so thank you very much, it's been great," he said.
“It's been a hell of a journey, but I think every good thing comes to an end and today is the end of my Brentford chapter.
“But I have memories for life.”