ALEXANDER THE GREAT continued his crusade to outdo Alan Shearer but it was Newcastle’s Italian Stallion that downed Brentford.
Sandro Tonali’s piledriver from out wide caught out Mark Flekken and kept Toon hot on fourth-placed Manchester City’s tails.
ReutersAlexander Isak made history as Newcastle’s only Premier League player to score 20 goals in consecutive seasons[/caption]
And that came without new legendary striker Alexander Isak even being on the pitch by that point.
While the 25-year-old still has some way to go to overtake Super Al’s club-record 206 goal haul, Newcastle’s sensational Swede has now achieved another feat the legend could not.
Fresh from ending the Magpies’ wait since 1969 for silverware, Isak is now the first Newcastle player to score 20-plus in consecutive Premier League campaigns after his opener.
Brentford, six games unbeaten on the road, threatened to spoil the fun after Bryan Mbeumo equalised with a penalty until Tonali’s moment of magic.
It was another party atmosphere on Tyneside beforehand as the Carabao Cup winners returned to action for the first time since that Wembley triumph.
And just days after an estimated 300,000 attended the trophy parade, the Toon Army had another trick up their sleeve to mark their 70-year major trophy drought ending.
A huge flag of Newcastle’s now legendary boss was unfurled in the Gallowgate End pre-match, next to the message: “Eddie Howe History Made”.
Humble Howe clapped in appreciation, but he and his players know that an even bigger prize is there for the taking.
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He admitted that Newcastle’s biggest hurdle to overcome was their own inconsistency in the quest to secure Champions League qualification.
And after naming the same starting XI that toppled Liverpool in the final, his men roared into action.
They craved Brentford open in just the second minute in an almost dream start.
Joelinton passed out left to Tino Livramento, the full-back beating a man and floating a cross towards the back post.
Isak raced in to meet it, though the usual lethal hotshot was unable to find the target from six yards out under pressure.
Joelinton dragged a shot wide as the pressure continued before Isak was at it again.
Jacob Murphy stole the ball off Ethan Pinnock in Brentford half and the Toon striker pounced like a lion.
He broke forward, freeing himself from the defence, and got clean through only to then blaze over from 20 yards.
The Bees, however, had weathered the early storm and it soon became apparent that Thomas Frank’s team were not just here to frustrate and put a cork in the cup celebration champers.
They came here looking for a sixth-straight away win and started to go toe-to-toe with the hosts.
Bryan Mbeumo fired one wide from the edge of the area before Kieran Trippier’s back post clearance from the Brentford winger’s cross denied Kevin Schade from nodding in.
Up the other end, Harvey Barnes tried his luck after cutting in from the left, but his fierce whipped strike whizzed past the wrong side of the far post.
Fabian Schar’s piledriver from distance diverted off Isak’s thigh as the Magpies tried to move through the gears again ahead of half time.
And they thought they had found a breakthrough in the final seconds when Isak danced past the defence and fed Barnes to finish into an empty net – but the winger had strayed offside.
However, just as it looked to be a tense teamtalk from Howe, up stepped his magic man.
This time he capitalised on a slip from his marker Mbeumo to guide Murphy’s cross past Mark Flekken for his 24th of the campaign.
Barnes shot wide straight after the break and then Murphy hesitated after stealing the ball and going through.
Caught in two minds whether to pass or shoot, his eventual effort was blocked as was Barnes’ follow-up and Brentford instantly launched a counter.
Bruno Guimaraes blocked one effort as the Magpies struggled to clear the danger and eventually they were punished after a frantic few seconds.
Newcastle goalie Nick Pope came out to stop Yoane Wissa from meeting a pass over the top and sent the Congolese ace tumbling.
The ref pointed straight to the spot, and after a VAR check, Mbeumo calmly sent Pope the wrong way.
Howe reacted by replacing Isak and Murphy with Callum Wilson and Joe Willock but it was the Bees who very nearly took the lead moments later.
A corner came in from the left and Pinnock jumped highest only to agonisingly watch his header hit the inside of the post and bounce into Pope’s hands.
Newcastle looked to be rocking with accusations of a Wembley hangover set to be thrown at them – but Tonali had other ideas.
Barnes laid it into his path down the right wing, and the eagle-eyed ex-AC Milan ace meant every bit of it as he spotted the gap and unleashed a thunderous strike inside Flekken’s near post.
Deep into the eight minutes of additional time the Bees had one final chance to deliver a sting, but substitute Mikkel Damsgaard blazed high into the Gallowgate.
The Dane then went down after colliding with Guimaraes, but despite Brentford’s pleas, the penalty appeals were waved away.
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