Brentford player ratings - 'Terrified' 3/10 but 'belter' 8 as Newcastle United dominate

Brentford could only provide a couple of minor scares as Newcastle United boosted their chances of clinching a Europa Conference League place next season.

It was the home side who looked to have given the Geordies an early shock as a determined Bryan Mbeumo slotted a cross right into the path of Ivan Toney, who couldn't miss - only for the opener to be chalked off for offside by VAR.

Envigorated by their early escape from danger, Newcastle United found themselves on the scoresheet after 21 minutes when Harvey Barnes drifted between defenders to nod home a Bruno Guimaraes cross.

Any hopes that Brentford had of coming back against a Europe-chasing Magpies team were blown away by a comedy of errors at the back. Zanka failed to control an easy ball, allowing Alexander Isak to steal in and find Jacob Murphy before Sergio Reguilon was dispossessed in his own half to gift Isak a golden chance of his own and set to the score to 3-0 after 38 minutes.

Vitaly Janelt popped up with an unlikely goal after the resumption and Thomas Frank's side began to find a foothold in the game. A Yoane Wissa screamer with 20 minutes left to play getting the Gtech rocking.

Any hopes of a miraculous Brentford recovery were stunted when Mark Flekken could only palm a free-kick into the path of Guimaraes, who added a fourth for the visitors. Here's how the Brentford players rated.