A WIN is a win, and Newcastle will be grateful to have got back to winning ways thanks to Calum Wilson’s second-half penalty. However, the 1-0 scoreline flattered them; their disjointed performance did not deserve all three points.

Brentford’s game plan was clear, defend deep and in numbers and try to hit the hosts on the break, and for large parts of the match they frustrated their hosts.

Relief was the overwhelming emotion for Eddie Howe. “It was a massive win for us,” said the Newcastle boss. “Brentford made it very difficult for us. We are a very good team, but sometime you need a result to swing your way to show that.”

Wilson and Gordon might have topped the players’ scores for Newcastle but perhaps their best player was Brentford keeper Mark Flekken.

On 57 minutes, having mistimed attempt to punch clear, he could only watch as Wilson poked the ball home during a goalmouth scramble.

He was then somewhat fortunate when referee Craig Pawson determined that Wilson had impeded him.

Two minutes later, his luck deserted him when he rushed out to meet Aaron Hickey’s poor backpass only to bring down the onrushing Anthony Gordon.

After consulting his assistant referee, Pawson pointed to the spot. Wilson made no mistake with a kick high to the keeper’s left.

The goal settled Newcastle’s nerves. The fluency of which they are capable began to return. With 10 minutes left, Pawson adjudged Bryan Mbeumo to have handled and pointed to the spot again. It always looked harsh. The Brentford player, his back to the ball  knew little of Harvey Barnes’s downward header. After being sent to the monitor, Pawson rightly changed his mind.

Deep in stoppage time, Yoane Wissa had a chance to gain the point Brentford deserved, however, with the goal at his mercy, he failed to make decent contact at the far post from a deep goal kick.

After three consecutive defeats, the win gives Newcastle a chance to relax before the Champions League on Tuesday. “It wasn’t us at our free-flowing best,” acknowledged Howe, “but it means we can enjoy Milan that little bit more.”