Newcastle thrash Brentford but must wait to discover their European fate

Bruno Guimarães of Newcastle United sports a hat thrown from the crowd after scoring their fourth goal at Brentford. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Newcastle ran riot at Brentford with their first-half goal glut securing seventh place, but Eddie Howe must wait to discover whether his team will play in Europe next season. They must hope Manchester City win the FA Cup next weekend, which would hand them a place in the Europa Conference League.

Brentford started brightly but Ivan Toney’s early goal was disallowed and Newcastle’s potent attack punished them. Harvey Barnes headed them in front before two goals in less than 90 seconds – from Jacob Murphy and the excellent Alexander Isak – appeared to give Newcastle control.

Vitaly Janelt’s goal and Yoane Wissa’s exceptional effort roused Brentford in the second half but the influential Bruno Guimarães sealed victory for Newcastle to complete their highest-scoring Premier League season, with 85.

Howe made four changes to the Newcastle team beaten at Old Trafford, with the goalkeeper Nick Pope starting for the first time since December after recovering from a dislocated shoulder. Joelinton, Fabian Schar and Barnes were brought into the team for Elliot Anderson and Kieran Trippier, with Anthony Gordon unavailable with an ankle injury.

Brentford made four changes to the side that defeated Bournemouth. Mads Roerslev, Mathias Jørgensen, Wissa and Mathias Jensen replaced Keane Lewis-Potter and Mikkel Damsgaard with Kristoffer Ajer and Nathan Collins missing out due to injury.

Toney appeared to end his goal drought, stretching back to February for Brentford, after side-footing home from Bryan Mbeumo’s cross in the second minute but the VAR intervened, ruling the Cameroon forward offside. The same Brentford pair combined again shortly afterwards, following a loose pass from Lewis Hall, with Mbeumo sliding Toney in, but the striker’s shot was parried by Pope.

A wild start in west London continued with Newcastle stirred into action but Joelinton somehow missed the target after Isak’s delivery from the right.

Newcastle opened the scoring midway through the half with Guimarães’s pinpoint cross headed in by Barnes for his fifth goal of the season. Sean Longstaff appeared to extend Newcastle’s lead with a low strike but the goal was chalked off for offside against Isak.

Newcastle struck again twice in quick succession to leave Brentford toiling. A mistake by Ethan Pinnock enabled Isak to race away and set up Murphy for a close-range finish. Before Brentford had time to react to this they conceded a third to deflate the home supporters.

Murphy offoaded to Guimarães and the midfielder played in Isak for a clinical finish past the goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Isak joined esteemed company in becoming the first Newcastle player to score 25 goals in all competitions in a season since Alan Shearer 20 years ago.

Brentford sparked hopes of a comeback at the start of the second half with Janelt rifling a shot past Pope after being set up by Wissa.

Newcastle should have added a fourth goal when Schar’s free-kick was charged down but Isak poked the rebound wide from close range. Brentford responded strongly and were denied another goal by Pope’s save from Toney’s header.

Brentford’s recovery gathered strength and they were rewarded with a stunning second goal. Toney flicked the ball on and Wissa cut inside from the left to curl his shot past Pope and into the corner.

Newcastle were awarded a penalty for a trip on Hall by Mbeumo but the VAR ruled the foul took place outside the penalty area. It did not matter: Isak’s free-kick was parried by Flekken and Guimarães poked home the rebound. The Brazilian midfielder celebrated by putting on a bucket hat thrown down by a fan – a shrewd move in the balmy sunshine to cap another high-scoring victory for Newcastle.