Newcastle 2-1 Brentford: Sandro Tonali wondergoal gives Eddie Howe’s side crucial win in race for Champions League as they rise to fifth

The Lord Mayor’s Show packed up and left town a few days ago but this was no anti-climax, even if Newcastle did have to wait until late for Sandro Tonali to emerge as the headline act.

On the back of Saturday’s Carabao Cup bus-parade party, Eddie Howe had told his players they might have to grind out victories between now and the end of the season in their pursuit of Champions League football. Not everything would be as glorified as Wembley and the celebrations that followed, he warned.

Well, Tonali disproved that theory with a winning goal of ridiculous quality and even greater audacity. So ridiculous, in fact, no-one inside St James’ Park expected the Italian to take on the angle presented to him on the right touchline. Only he saw the possibility of the shot, and by the time goalkeeper Mark Flekken saw it, it was too late.

That strike was enough to return Newcastle to the top five, even if this display was not entirely convincing. Alexander Isak was out of sorts, despite an opening goal that means he becomes the only Newcastle player to score 20 goals in consecutive Premier League seasons.

When Bryan Mbuemo levelled for Thomas Frank’s Brentford with a second-half penalty, a draw seemed likely, and that would have been just about fair. But, like Howe had said, his team would have to find different ways to win, and Tonali did that all right.

The last time Newcastle returned to play at home after winning a trophy, the first moon landing of 1969 was still in the news. Well, the first half here had the feel of the Geordies coming back down to earth – at least until Isak sent them back into orbit in stoppage-time.

Sandro Tonali’s wondergoal secured the win in their first game since the Carabao Cup triumph

Tonali’s audacious effort from a tight angle near the corner flag beat Bees No 1 Mark Flekken

The striker had played as if wearing Neil Armstrong’s moon boots for the majority of the opening period. Just seconds before his opener, he went clear on goal but seemed caught in a million minds. 

In the end, the convoluted avenue he ventured down – a series of feints and a chip to Harvey Barnes – left his team-mate offside when he turned in from a few yards out. Barnes was furious, given Isak could have presented him with an open goal a split-second earlier.

It looked like that would mark the end of an unhappy half. Howe had said they would probably be unable to replicate the level of their Wembley performance. 

To be fair, that was once-in-a-lifetime stuff, quite literally given it marked 70 years since their last piece of domestic silverware.

After a bright start, fuelled by lingering adrenaline and pre-match flags celebrating history made, they faded. Come the 45th minute, the only thing of sparkle inside St James’ was the Carabao Cup itself.

Then, Isak illuminated the place, as he so often does. It was a fine team move. A Joelinton flick, Tino Livramento to Bruno Guimaraes to Jacob Murphy. 

The winger crossed from the right and, when forward Mbuemo slipped inside a six-yard area he should not have been in to begin with, Isak pounced to head home. That it clipped Mbuemo on the way in compounded his misery.

Isak could have had a second soon after the restart. Barnes showed that hatchets had been buried during the interval when he drove forward and found the Swede in space rather than shooting. But Isak failed to bury the chance, taking too long before being crowded out of possession.

Alexander Isak had earlier opened the scoring as the Swede continued his brilliant season

Isak finished with aplomb from Jacob Murphy’s cross after a brilliant Newcastle team move

Bryan Mbeumo had levelled from the penalty spot after Yoane Wissa was fouled inside the area

The victory was an big one for Howe’s side as they battle to qualify for the Champions League

That in-decision was symptomatic of the home side and Murphy soon caught the bug when he went through just after the hour. 

His shot was blocked and, from that left-off, Brentford took heart. From attempting to land the knockout blow, Newcastle were suddenly on the ropes. 

Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier put their bodies on the line in quick succession inside the penalty area but there was an inevitability about what soon followed. 

Mbuemo clipped a ball in behind and Yoane Wissa took the invitation of a sliding Nick Pope to topple over the goalkeeper. Mbuemo duly levelled from the spot.

Pope made amends with an injury-time block from Nathan Collins, atoning for that error of judgement. But it was Tonali’s judgement that stole the show.