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Thomas Frank tells VAR they got major decision wrong after Newcastle United’s 2-1 win over Brentford
Liam Brusby
4 – 5 minutes
Thomas Frank spoke to the press after Brentford were on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Wednesday night.
The Magpies climbed up to fifth in the Premier League table thanks to the win after goals from Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s leveller after the hour mark.
While fans understand it was not Newcastle United’s best performance of the season, it was enough to get the job done and carry the momentum from the Carabao Cup win two weeks ago.
Newcastle fans got to see Mbeumo at St James’ Park for a second time this season. Reports have stated that Mbeumo is Newcastle’s dream signing, but the Magpies must fork out as much as £60m to bring him to Tyneside this summer.
There was concern when Isak came off in the second half shortly after pulling up. Howe confirmed Isak’s substitution was due to injury, claiming that he felt something in his groin and was not 100% going into the game.
With Newcastle taking all three points and carrying on their push for Champions League football, Brentford boss Thomas Frank pointed out a controversial incident which he believed should have gone their way.
READ MORE – Alexander Isak makes history with Newcastle United feat not even Alan Shearer could manage
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Thomas Frank thinks Brentford should’ve had second penalty vs Newcastle
While Newcastle picked up the win, it was not easy as a lively Brentford side piled on the pressure. The Bees were unlucky not to score a second shortly after their equaliser when Ethan Pinnock’s close-range header came off the post, much to Nick Pope’s delight.
Mbeumo admitted St James’ Park is difficult to play at if you are on the opposition team because it is so ‘tight’, but the Newcastle fans in the ground were nearly silenced late into the second half when Mikkel Damsgaard went down in the box following a coming together with Bruno Guimaraes.
The penalty appeals were waved off by referee Peter Bankes and Newcastle were able to hold on. However, Frank was not willing to let it go quickly, and that was evident in his post match interview.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Frank said: “I do think the first one with Damsgaard was a penalty so that is a foul anywhere else on the pitch. You can’t just run through a player.
“That said, I think we played a very good game and it is a very difficult place. Apart from the first minute and the last minute of the first half, we defended well.
“The big moments that you need to go our way, didn’t go our way. We hit the post with Ethan and then with Damsgaard. Ethan if he heads that any other day, he scores. Today we just didn’t have the fine margins.”
READ MORE – What the Italian media are saying about Sandro Tonali after his ‘absurd’ Newcastle United goal
Newcastle were less fortunate earlier in Brentford win
While the Magpies were saved from a penalty with the score at 2-1, the same cannot be said by fans with the score at 1-0.
Brentford were awarded a penalty after Pope was deemed to have fouled Yoane Wissa after struggling to control the ball.
It was an unfortunate penalty to give away in the circumstances, many would have thought that Pope would have been able to control the ball comfortably had it not been for the pressure from Wissa.
Wissa knows what he’s doing, but it’s a pen. Pope doesn’t get the ball.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) April 2, 2025
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VAR checked the incident, and ultimately, the correct decision was confirmed before Mbeumo converted from the spot.
Brentford’s loss to Newcastle means the Magpies have one less team to worry about in the race for European football. The Bees had an outside chance of finishing in the top seven but the defeat on Wednesday now means that is much less likely.
