BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ on Newcastle United after 3-1 Brentford defeat | OneFootball

Interesting to read through these BBC Sport comments, following on from Newcastle United losing 3-1 to Brentford.

The comments from neutrals especially telling…

A lot of it different to what Newcastle United fans had come to expect from the BBC Sport ‘neutrals’.

The BBC Sport comments from neutrals in the past had been overwhelmingly a catalogue of abuse aimed at NUFC supporters.

Particularly stuff about the Newcastle United owners and the media-inspired pile-ons that NUFC fans have become used to, when blamed for who now owns their club.

On this occasion the politics almost entirely absent, concentrating instead on matters on the pitch and many neutrals enjoying Newcastle United losing a match!

The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals, some Brentford fans, plus the odd Newcastle supporter (and very odd Sunderland fans, including those pretending to be Newcastle fans…) also contributing:

‘Eddie Howe has changed the mindset and culture at the club. He’s developed existing players and been a great spokesperson for this club through a period of transition.

He got it wrong today, but he’s done more than moderately improve the club, and his impact is way more than just the players we’ve signed.’

‘What exactly as Eddie Howe achieved?

A carabao Cup in the 4years he’s been there…

Any other club would have got rid by now..

The ownership at Newcastle clearly lacks ambition.’

‘Tell us you know nothing about football without saying that you know nothing about football.’

‘The penalty was a dive unless you are on a different planet.’

‘Completely agree and I’m not biased.’

‘It depends which planet you are on! Most observers are on earth and agree it was a penalty.’

‘He dived.. twice. Cheating.’

‘Howe at fault as Burn was obviously being targeted and was struggling and we had Hall on the bench who wouldn’t have been beaten for pace by the Brentford players looking to get into the box and fall over.’

‘Haha. Your players couldn’t stop falling g over in the first half when you were in front… Funng how that all stopped once we equalised and even more so after our second and third goal. Dan Burn was well off pace and looked awkward all match. Well deserved 3 points for the mighty bees.’

‘Howe has moderately improved aa club that struggled for many years by spending loads of cash?’

‘Newcastle were leading 1-0 at half time. All they had to do was concentrate and see the game out. Burn made a big error, yes, but the usually reliable Botman made two.

You can’t predict or legislate for that, you don’t drop your best defender because they MIGHT make two stupid errors that they usually never make. You can’t plan games with hindsight.’

‘Brentford, cracking hardworking honest down to earth football club..brilliant !!’

‘I don’t think either were a penalty but I could understand if the first one was given

Never even touched him for the second one.’

‘Agreed. The first one was minimal contact and wouldn’t have been overturned no matter what the initial decision was.

However, there was zero contact on the second one.’

‘First Challenge was a penalty and no yellow card for the Brentford player.

Second Challenge was not a penalty and no yellow card for Dan Burn!!! Ridiculous refereeing…’

‘Burn is a CH. shouldn’t be ‘forced’ to play out of position. Doesn’t help his international prospects either!

Play 1352 for goodness sake!

Pope; Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Trippier (Livramento when fit!), Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton, Hall; Barnes, Woltemade. (With Wissa replacing Woltemade if ever fit!)

Then we just might stand a chance of competing.’

‘A very good win by Brentford after going behind and having most of their good players sold, the replacements have been very good.’

‘The defensive midfield is the key to protecting the back four usually like it was for Liverpool’s title winning side and then when it’s not there the defensive looks a different story but it’s the midfield that’s not doing the job usually.’

‘Rumours of Brentford’s demise have been greatly exaggerated’

‘Team needs pace, waltemade is not the answer, he is nowhere near as good as Isak.’

‘Thanks Brentford. Much the better team. Newcastle in a relegation fight this season. Bless.’

‘The most surprising stat for me was, this was Dan Burn’s first red card for 12 years.’

‘Credit must go to Brentford. Did not deserve to be behind at half time but didn’t let their heads drop. Really positive performance.’

‘Botman should’ve been replaced by Hall at halftime and Burn to CB. That second half felt inevitable.’

‘Proper Premier League scrap with Brentford just being hungrier than Newcastle at the end of the day.’

‘This is going to be a massively unpopular comment as the Brentford fans are rightly out in force after their win but something really has to be done about this homer officiating at the Gtech, that’s on field and VAR. Their game against Man U also springs to mind. Also what was the pundit on about the pen mistake making up for the one they didn’t get. Both were clear dives!! And to send Burn off?!’

‘Soft for the pen,but it makes a change to get the decisions against the so-called “bigger clubs” they’re getting fewer and fewer.’

‘He never touched him for the pen if you look closely.’

Brentford 3 Newcastle 1 – Sunday 9 November 2025 2pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Barnes 27, Burn red card 73

Brentford:

Schade 56, Thiago 78 pen, 90+5

Possession was Newcastle 51% Brentford 49%

Total shots were Newcastle 5 Brentford 15

Shots on target were Newcastle 1 Brentford 7

Corners were Newcastle 2 Brentford 6

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 16 Brentford 35

Newcastle team v Brentford:

Pope (Ramsdale 77), Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno (Miley 96), Joelinton (Ramsey 24), Tonali (Willock 77), Murphy (Elanga 77), Woltemade, Barnes (Hall 77)