Newcastle United vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction

Newcastle United have had worse anniversaries. A club with designs on setting up residence in the top six marked a year of new ownership by scoring five goals and surging into the European places. It may only be temporary, as others have games in hand, but the more pertinent statistic is that Newcastle have the sixth most points in the last 12 months. If that is testament to the difference Eddie Howe has made, his biggest win in charge was garnished by Bruno Guimaraes, who struck twice in a star turn.

Investment has brought improvement and Guimaraes continues to look a fine use of £40 million. In a heady year on Tyneside, much of a £200 million outlay has been spent disturbingly sensibly.

Progress feels a consequence, along with Howe’s capacity to blend the imported with the inherited, and Newcastle celebrated a year under the auspices of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – or, according to interpretation, a year without Mike Ashley – with the sort of scoreline that would have felt impossible at this stage in 2021, when they were winless, but which does not now.

United had drawn their previous three at St James’ Park but wins have nonetheless become normalised here: this was a ninth in 13 matches. After being Fulham 4-1 last week, they routed capital opponents again. After a first-half burst of two goals in eight minutes, Ivan Toney’s penalty prompted Newcastle, and Guimaraes, to restore a two-goal advantage swiftly and United were increasingly rampant as they added two more.

Rich Jolly at St. James’ Park:

That's all for today, goodbye!

That's back-to-back wins for Newcastle, and it lifts them up to fifth in the table. Next up for them is a trip to Manchester United. Brentford are winless in their last three as they slip down to 12th. They host Brighton and Hove Albion next time out.

For the second game in a row, Newcastle come out on top in a big win, beating Brentford 5-1. Mbuemo had an early goal ruled out by VAR due to Toney being offside before Guimaraes and Murphy sent the Magpies into half-time 2-0. Toney pulled one back from the spot after Burns' handball, but two minutes later, Guimaraes scored again to restore their cushion. Two late goals rounded it off, with Pinnock's loose backpass setting up Almiron before the defender turned it past his own keeper from close range.