Sandro Tonali turned up donning shades to put the Hollywood A-listers to shame.
And then the Magpies’ very own Italian stallion wrote a script that even Sylvester Stallone would be proud of. As fans purred over replays of the ex-AC Milan star’s wonder strike, this didn’t feel like watching football, it felt like pure theatre.
Few would dare dream of trying to score where Tonali did, but the £55million man saw something others didn’t and then produced his own masterpiece. Tonali has been a mainstay in the Newcastle team since returning from his 10-month betting ban but this was the type of moment he would have dreamed of
Although, the night had not been straight-forward for Eddie Howe’s side. Ahead of the kick off a huge Eddie Howe banner was unfurled in the Gallowgate End with a banner reading: “Eddie Howe – history made.”
But attention quickly switched back to the European race with Brentford standing in the way of an important three points.
It became obvious very quickly that the Bees weren’t here to make life easy for the Carabao Cup winners as they turned the black and whites around after winning the toss meaning Newcastle shot downhill to the Gallowgate End in the first half.
Having lost 4-2 to Brentford in December, Newcastle knew it wouldn’t be easy and while they did breeze past the side from West London in the Carabao Cup at the end of the year, this Bees side had won three away games on the spin.
It took just two minutes for United to create something as Tino Livramento twisted past his Sepp Van den Berg on the left and floated in a fine cross but Alexander Isak nodded wide. As the game drifted past the 10 minute mark, Joelinton got into the danger area and dragged an effort just wide of the upright.
As the game reached the mid-way point of the first half, Thomas Frank was the more content of the two bosses given his side had survived Newcastle’s bright start and created some reasonable openings themselves. On 22 minutes, Jacob Murphy slipped Isak through the centre, but after taking a touch to steady himself, he fired over the bar.
Moments later, Murphy had a go from 30 yards but his effort was never troubling Mark Flekken and rolled harmlessly wide of the target. As the game ticked by the half hour mark, Sandro Tonali’s effort was blocked and Harvey Barnes flashed an effort just past Flekken’s right-hand post.
Isak knew very little about his next chances as Fabian Schar’s shot struck him on 42 minutes but again went wide before Isak crossed for Barnes to head home – only for VAR to intervene and rule it offside. But United fans would not need to wait long to get their moment.
A tremendous sweeping pass from midfield from Bruno picked out Murphy wide on the right. And as Murphy took a touch before curving the ball in from the right Isak poked home his 29th of the season for club and country.
Although, it has to be said it was very much a team goal for Newcastle as Nick Pope started the move to find Dan Burn who sprayed it forward to Joelinton. A fancy flick from the Brazilian to Livramento then released Bruno who allowed Murphy and Isak to do the rest.
The replay will make for tough viewing for Toon transfer target Bryan Mbeumo who was not only brutally sent for a paper by Joelinton’s flick, but also slipped at the crucial moment in front of the Gallowgate as Isak fired home.
Newcastle could not add to their tally at the start of the second half and Brentford were then handed a way back into the game. Indeed, after Wissa had been fouled by Pope, ref Peter Bankes pointed straight to the spot.
Mbeumo would make up for his error by sending Pope the wrong way and leveling from the spot when tucking it into the right-hand corner of the net. Howe immediately looked to change things up when bringing on Callum Wilson and Joe Willock for Isak and Murphy.
But it was the Bees that almost went ahead soon after. Indeed, after Ethan Pinnock’s header flew towards goal it was the post that came to Newcastle’s rescue – much to Pope’s relief.
And Pope would have felt even better with himself eight minutes later as Tonali uncorked a vintage. With Brentford looking like a team that were preparing for a routine defensive clear-up, Tonali had not read the script.
Bruno and Barnes worked the ball up the field for Tonali and it looked like he was simply going to hang the ball up. Only, this goal could easily be hung up in the Louvre.
Tonali connected with the ball perfectly and struck it goal from an acute angle with both accuracy and velocity. Flekken had no chance and lay tangled in the net like a fresh haddock being reeled back in on North Shields fish quay.
It will go down as one of the great Newcastle goals in the Premier League. Papiss Cisse vs Chelsea, Peter Beardsley vs Norwich and Alan Shearer vs Everton, this is worthy of a place alongside all three.
Newcastle needed a fine block from Pope late on to deny Kevin Schade and Flekken went up for an even later corner, but Newcastle held on to the points.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Lancashire)
