Newcastle United 2-3 Brentford Player Ratings: Bees Snatch Dramatic Victory at St. James' Park

At St. James’ Park, Newcastle United were left stunned as Brentford snatched a dramatic 3–2 victory in one of the most chaotic Premier League games of the season. The scoreline barely captures the madness of a contest packed with goals, penalties, defensive errors, and a last-gasp winner that completely flipped the script late on.

Newcastle looked in control early and made their dominance count when Sven Botman powered home a header to put the hosts ahead. However, Brentford refused to fade. They grew into the game and were rewarded when Vitaly Janelt pulled them level, before a costly mistake from Jacob Murphy resulted in a penalty that Igor Thiago calmly converted just before half-time to swing the momentum.

The second half followed the same breathless pattern. Newcastle pushed forward with intent and were handed a lifeline when Bruno Guimarães won and converted a penalty, restoring parity and seemingly setting the game up for a draw.

But deep into the closing stages, Brentford delivered the final twist, as Dango Ouattara struck late to seal a memorable away win.

It was a wild, end-to-end affair where momentum shifted constantly, and Brentford’s resilience ultimately proved decisive in a thrilling 3–2 Premier League classic. Here's a look at the Newcastle United Vs Brentford Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• The game swung wildly from start to finish, with both sides trading goals, penalties, and control in a chaotic, end-to-end contest.
• Despite falling behind early, Brentford stayed composed, capitalised on Newcastle errors, and repeatedly punished lapses in concentration.
• Just as the hosts forced their way back into the match, Dango Ouattara’s late strike delivered a stunning winner and sealed a famous away victory.

Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Brentford

Here's a look at the Newcastle United Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - 5.5: A tough day for the keeper. He conceded three goals, though he couldn't do much about the penalty. Made a couple of decent saves throughout the game. We noticed he looked a little hesitant on crosses at times. Ultimately, it was a performance he'll want to forget as his team fell to a defeat.

Defenders

Kieran Trippier - 6.0: A mixed performance from the veteran right-back. He did create a big chance and his delivery was dangerous as usual. However, he was caught out defensively and dribbled past twice. From our perspective, he wasn't his usual commanding self and struggled to contain Brentford's attacks down his flank. A decent but not great outing.

Lewis Hall - 5.5: The young defender showed some promise going forward, creating one chance. Defensively however, he looked vulnerable. He lost possession far too many times for our liking. It felt like a learning experience for him against a tricky Brentford side. He needs to improve the defensive side of his game.

Sven Botman - 7.5: Easily Newcastle's best defender. He scored a fantastic bullet header to give his team the lead. He was a rock at the back, winning most of his duels and making a staggering eight clearances. Despite being on the losing team and conceding three, his individual performance was commendable. He really didn't deserve to be on the losing side.

Malick Thiaw - 6.5: A solid partner to Botman for large parts of the game. He was strong in the air, winning five aerial duels, and made seven crucial clearances. He did his job pretty well on an individual level. But the entire defensive unit crumbled under pressure, which reflects poorly on everyone. Still a decent showing.

Midfielders

Sandro Tonali - 6.0: The Italian midfielder was busy but ultimately ineffective. He took a few shots from distance but none really threatened the goal. We felt he struggled to control the tempo of the game. He lost the ball on 13 occasions which is just too high for a central midfielder. A frustrating afternoon for him.

Joe Willock - 5.5: Played only the first 45 minutes and failed to make a significant impact. He was full of running as always but lacked that final product. He was hooked at halftime as the manager looked to change things up. A quiet and forgettable performance from Willock.

Bruno Guimarães - 8.0: What a player. He was the heart and soul of this Newcastle team. He provided the assist for Botman's goal with a perfect cross. Then, he won and confidently dispatched a late penalty to level the scores. He fought for every ball and created three chances, trying to drag his team to a result. A true captain's performance and Newcastle's highest-rated player.

Forwards

Yoane Wissa - 5.0: We barely noticed he was on the pitch. The forward was completely anonymous for most of his time on the field. He had one shot blocked but offered little else. It was no surprise to see him substituted after 65 minutes. A very poor showing.

Harvey Barnes - 5.0: This one will sting for Barnes. He missed two big chances that could have changed the entire complexion of the game. His finishing was uncharacteristically poor. While he got into good positions, his lack of composure in front of goal was a major letdown. He has to be more clinical.

Jacob Murphy - 4.0: A disastrous 45 minutes for the winger. His main contribution was conceding a penalty with a ridiculous handball just before halftime. That decision completely shifted the momentum in Brentford's favour. It was a moment of sheer panic and he was rightly substituted at the break.

Substitutes

Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade, William Osula - N/A: The substitutes were brought on to try and change the game but none could provide the spark needed to secure a win. They struggled to get involved in the limited time they had.

Manager

E. Howe - 5.0: His team started well and took the lead, but he watched as they completely collapsed defensively to go in behind at halftime. His substitutions didn't have the desired effect. He will be absolutely furious with the individual errors and the manner of this defeat at home.

Brentford Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Let's take a look at the Brentford Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Caoimhín Kelleher - 6.0: He conceded two goals, one of which was a penalty he had no chance with. He only made one save during the match, which tells you more about Newcastle's finishing. It was a relatively quiet day for him otherwise, and he ended up on the winning team.

Defenders

Rico Henry - 6.0: An industrious but unspectacular performance. He was solid enough at the back without doing anything flashy. Didn't get forward as much as he usually does but did his defensive duties diligently. An average, steady performance.

Sepp van den Berg - 6.5: A composed performance from the central defender. He didn't make any glaring errors and was solid in his duels. He contributed with a couple of important clearances. He was part of a defence that, despite some scares, ultimately secured a win.

Kristoffer Ajer - 7.0: We were impressed by Ajer. He was strong and commanding at the back, winning most of his duels and making five clearances. He read the game well and his tackling was on point. A very reliable performance that was key to Brentford's resilience.

Michael Kayode - 5.0: A real mixed bag. He looked decent for much of the game, making tackles and drawing fouls. But his performance is overshadowed by conceding the late penalty for a clumsy foul on Guimarães. It was a rash decision that almost cost his team two points. A huge mistake that brings his rating down.

Midfielders

Jordan Henderson - 6.5: Played for just under an hour but was effective in his role. He kept possession ticking over and brought experience and composure to the midfield. He did his job well before being substituted. A solid, professional display.

Mathias Jensen - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was a constant presence in the midfield, breaking up play and starting attacks. He grabbed an assist and was unlucky not to score himself. An all-action performance from the Dane, who was instrumental in his team's comeback.

Vitaly Janelt - 8.0: What stood out to us was his incredible work rate and game intelligence. He scored the crucial equalising goal with a well-timed header. Beyond the goal, he made crucial tackles and even a goal-line clearance. A complete midfield performance and a clear contender for man of the match.

Keane Lewis-Potter - 6.0: He worked tirelessly for the team but lacked a bit of quality in the final third. He lost possession a few too many times. While his effort can't be faulted, he didn't provide a consistent attacking threat. An okay performance.

Forwards

Igor Thiago - 7.0: A tough night physically, as he lost a lot of his aerial battles. However, he showed nerves of steel to convert the penalty right before halftime, a massive moment in the game. His hold-up play was decent, but that composure from the spot was his key contribution.

Dango Ouattara - 8.5: The match-winner. From our perspective, he was the difference-maker. He provided a brilliant assist for Janelt's equalizer and then had the composure to score the dramatic late winner. He was a constant threat with his pace and directness. An outstanding, decisive performance that earned his team all three points.

Substitutes

Yehor Yarmoliuk, Romelle Donovan - N/A: Both came on to help see out the game and add fresh legs, a job they did effectively to help secure the memorable victory.

Manager

K. Andrews - 8.0: An excellent away performance masterminded by the manager. His team showed incredible character and resilience to come from behind. He got his tactics spot on, exploiting Newcastle's defensive frailties. He'll be overjoyed with his team's spirit and the result. A perfect away-day game plan.

Man of the Match

Dango Ouattara was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Jacob Murphy was the worst performer in the Newcastle United vs Brentford.