Following Brentford’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle United on Wednesday night, Thomas Frank addressed the media.
The victory moved the Magpies up to sixth place in the Premier League standings after goals from Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak negated Bryan Mbeumo’s equaliser after the hour.
Although supporters are aware that it wasn’t Newcastle United’s greatest game of the year, it was sufficient to complete the task at hand and maintain the momentum from the Carabao Cup victory two weeks prior.
Mbeumo was seen by Newcastle supporters at St. James’ Park for the second time this season. According to reports, Mbeumo is Newcastle’s ideal addition, but the Magpies will need to spend up to £60 million to lure him to Tyneside this summer.
There was anxiety when Isak was replaced in the second half immediately after pulling up. Howe stated Isak’s substitution was due to injury, admitting he felt something in his groin and was not at full strength entering the game.
With Newcastle taking all three points and continuing their push for Champions League participation, Brentford manager Thomas Frank highlighted a disputed incident that he felt should have gone their way.
Thomas Frank thinks Brentford should’ve had second penalty vs Newcastle
While Newcastle won, it was not easy, as a vibrant Brentford team put on the pressure. Ethan Pinnock’s close-range header went off the post, much to Nick Pope’s delight, and the Bees were unlucky not to score a second soon after their equaliser.
Mbeumo noted that St James’ Park is difficult to play at for the other team because it is so ‘tight’, but the Newcastle fans were nearly silenced late in the second half when Mikkel Damsgaard went down in the box after colliding with Bruno Guimaraes.
Referee Peter Bankes waived down the penalty appeals, and Newcastle held on. However, Frank was unwilling to let it go fast, as evidenced by 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.”
Newcastle were less fortunate earlier in Brentford win
While the Magpies were saved from a penalty with the score 2-1, fans cannot say the same when the score is 1-0.
Brentford were granted a penalty when Pope was found to have fouled Yoane Wissa while struggling to control the ball.
It was an awful penalty to give away in the circumstances; many would have felt Pope would have been able to control the ball well if Wissa had not applied pressure.
VAR investigated the situation, and the proper decision was confirmed before Mbeumo converted on the spot.
Brentford’s loss to Newcastle means the Magpies have one fewer team to contend with in the race for European football. The Bees had an outside chance of finishing in the top seven, but their setback on Wednesday makes that much less likely.
