Newcastle 2 Brentford 3: Ouattara strikes late as Bees stun Magpies at St James’ Park | OneFootball

Dango Ouattara’s late goal earned Brentford a dramatic 3-2 victory at Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The Bees responded superbly after falling behind to a Sven Botman goal midway through the first half. Vitaly Janelt’s towering header levelled the contest before Igor Thiago kept his nerve from the penalty spot, calmly rolling home his 18th goal of the season to give the west Londoners’ the lead at the interval.

The second half delivered another twist as Newcastle were awarded a spot-kick of their own, which was converted by Bruno Guimarães.

But just as the hosts sensed a winner, Brentford struck decisively. A pinpoint pass from Mathias Jensen found Ouattara, who drove low through Nick Pope’s legs to settle a breathless encounter on Tyneside.

Head coach Keith Andrews made one enforced change to Brentford’s starting XI.

Kevin Schade missed out through suspension after being shown a straight red card in the 1-0 win at Aston Villa the previous weekend. Keane Lewis-Potter replaced the German, starting on the left of a front three alongside Thiago and Ouattara.

The match began with a moment of controversy. With 95 seconds on the clock, Botman’s poor defensive header was seized upon by Lewis-Potter.

The former Hull City man was pulled down in the box by Kieran Trippier as he looked to advance towards goal, but referee Andrew Madley allowed play to continue. VAR upheld the on-field decision of no penalty.

Newcastle broke straight up the other end, Harvey Barnes curling a long-range effort narrowly wide of Caoimhín Kelleher’s left post.

On 14 minutes, Kelleher punched Guimarães’s corner only as far as Jacob Murphy. The forward sent the ball back into a crowded six-yard box and Barnes went close with an instinctive flick.

Newcastle again surrendered possession in their own third, allowing Jensen to line up a shot, but his strike was tame and comfortably held by Pope.

The Magpies took the lead midway through the half. Guimarães whipped in a corner and Botman headed down into the turf and up into the roof of the net.

Ouattara’s deflected cross was pushed to safety by Pope as the Bees went in search of an immediate equaliser.

Barnes’ cut-back ricocheted off Rico Henry and Yoane Wissa’s poked effort was cleared off the line by Janelt. Sandro Tonali then scuffed a shot over the crossbar following another Guimarães corner.

Brentford turned the game around before the break. On his 100th Premier League appearance, Ouattara drove up the left flank and swung a glorious cross into the box. Janelt rose highest, beating Botman in the air and heading back across goal and into the far corner.

The Bees’ second goal came from the penalty spot. After some superb work from the lively Ouattara, Jensen’s strike from the middle of the box was handled by Murphy and Madley awarded a spot-kick.

Undeterred by a lengthy VAR check, Thiago rolled the ball into the bottom corner after a slow, stuttering run-up, sending Pope the wrong way in the process.

Nick Woltemade and Anthony Elanga were introduced by Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe at the start of the second half, the former partnering Wissa up front. Murphy and Joe Willock were the pair to make way.

On 54 minutes, Trippier combined with Elanga down the right and the full-back’s deep cross was headed wide by Barnes.

Kristoffer Ajer then stole possession from Wissa on the edge of Brentford’s box. Janelt charged forward and slid a pass to Lewis-Potter on his right, but his shot was blocked by Lewis Hall.

Centre-back Malick Thiaw strode forward and let fly from the edge of the area, forcing Kelleher into an impressive save to his right. The resulting corner, taken by Guimarães, was nodded off target Botman.

William Osula, brought on to replace Wissa, led a Newcastle counter attack and released Elanga on the left. The forward’s low cross narrowly evaded Guimarães in the middle, who went down under pressure from Michael Kayode.

VAR recommended a review and, after watching the incident back on the monitor, Madley gave the Magpies a penalty. Guimarães scored from the spot to set up a dramatic end to the game.

With the momentum having swung Newcastle’s way, there was a sense inside St James’ Park that the hosts would score a late winner - but Andrews’ side had other ideas.

Jensen lifted a superb ball to Ouattara inside the penalty area, and the forward drove hard and low through Pope’s legs and into the back of the net.

Thiaw had the hosts’ only attempt during nine minutes of stoppage-time, the defender diverting Elanga’s low cross wide, as Brentford stood firm to secure a first win at St James’ Park since 1934.

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier (Burn 87), Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Guimarães, Tonali (Ramsey 87), Willock (Elanga HT); J Murphy (Woltemade HT), Wissa (Osula 65), Barnes

Subs: Ramsdale, A Murphy, Shahar, Neave

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry; Henderson (Yarmoliuk 56), Janelt, Jensen (Damsgaard 87); Ouattara, Thiago, Lewis-Potter (Donovan 80)

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Nelson, Collins, Furo

Attendance: 52,032

Keith Andrews: It’s important to take these kinds of occasions in

Keith Andrews reflected on Brentford’s impressive 3-2 victory over Newcastle.

“I don’t really know where to start, to be honest!” said the Bees head coach.

“I have immense pride. We had to overcome a lot within the game and had to react to setbacks.

“After the equaliser, I wasn’t happy with settling for that. The group aren’t wired like that, so for us to show the confidence and conviction to push on and want to go for the victory was so pleasing.”

On the travelling support, Andrews added: “It means everything. It’s about players and fans, that’s what the game has always been about.

“It’s important to take these kinds of occasions in as they are pretty significant in our history.”

Sepp van den Berg: We stick together, stay together and give everything

Defender Sepp van den Berg expressed his pride at Brentford's performance and highlighted the team's togetherness.

“It was tough, we fought very hard,” he said.

“The way we’ve been playing for the last month has been so good. We never give up.

“A lot of heading and a lot of defending during the second half. As a team we stick together, stay together and give everything.

“To come here, to this stadium with their fans, I’m just very proud of everyone.”