Callum Wilson's Penalty Seals Newcastle's 1-0 Win Over Brentford

 Callum Wilson's Penalty Seals Newcastle's 1-0 Win Over Brentford

Callum Wilson's Penalty Seals Newcastle's 1-0 Win Over Brentford(Image-Getty)

Newcastle United secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Brentford at St James' Park, thanks to a crucial Callum Wilson penalty, marking their first win in four Premier League games.

The first half of the match saw few notable scoring opportunities. However, shortly after the interval, Wilson believed he had given Newcastle the lead, only for the referee to blow the whistle for a foul on Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken.

It was Flekken himself who played a decisive role in the 64th minute when he brought down Anthony Gordon inside the penalty area, resulting in a penalty for Newcastle. Callum Wilson stepped up to the spot and calmly converted, securing the solitary goal of the game.

Late in the match, Newcastle was awarded another penalty, but referee Craig Pawson's decision was reversed after a VAR review.

Brentford struggled to mount a significant offensive threat throughout the game, ultimately failing to avoid their first defeat of the season. Newcastle's victory propelled them to 11th place in the Premier League standings, level on six points with 10th-placed Thomas Frank's Brentford.

Callum Wilson, reflecting on the win, stated, "The break probably came at a good time for us; we were on a run of defeats and needed to get back to winning ways. We had to win ugly, and three points were the most important today. We believe in each other. Pressure is for tyres. For me, practicing penalties in training and on a matchday, you've done it so many times, and it's just repetition, stay composed, and that's what I did."

Newcastle had experienced three consecutive defeats prior to Brentford's visit, which had dampened expectations following their impressive performance last season, where they lost only three of their final 14 matches.

Against a well-organized Brentford side, Newcastle appeared to be a team struggling for form. Their notable chance in the first half came from Bruno Guimaraes' close-range header.

However, in the second half, Newcastle significantly improved their performance, with Callum Wilson playing a pivotal role. Flekken had no chance of stopping Wilson's expertly-taken penalty, as the English striker notched his eighth goal in his last seven league starts.

Furthermore, Wilson has now successfully converted 15 out of the 16 penalties he has taken in the Premier League, a remarkable statistic that places him among the top penalty takers in the league's history.

Brentford's response to the deficit proved disappointing, resulting in their first goalless match in eight league games. Newcastle, on the other hand, secured only their third Premier League clean sheet since February.