LONDON: Newcastle United’s miserable away run in the Premier League continued on Sunday with a 3-1 defeat by Brentford after Dan Burn conceded a second-half penalty and was sent off.
Igor Thiago made it 2-1 from the spot in the 78th minute, after a 56th-minute Kevin Schade equalizer, as the hosts fought back from going a goal down against the run of play in the 27th at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Thiago then grabbed his second, and eighth league goal of the season, in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Burn was sent off in the 73rd for his second yellow for fouling Dango Ouattara and Newcastle replaced concussed goalkeeper Nick Pope with Aaron Ramsdale off the bench in a rash of substitutes once VAR confirmed the penalty.
Newcastle have yet to win away in the league this season, losing five and drawing four in the top flight since last April, while faring considerably better at home, in the Champions League and in cup competitions.
Sunday was their third straight away defeat in the league while Brentford moved up to 12th.
“The Champions League, you have to forget about it to a degree but the Premier League is everything,” manager Eddie Howe said. “At the moment, we are suffering.
“We know we will rightly be criticized for our away form, and all we can do is stick together and fight back.”
Harvey Barnes put the visitors ahead with their first shot on target after Brentford, who have already beaten Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa in West London, had come close to taking the lead.
The winger wrong-footed two defenders with a neat twist before slotting past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Pope denied Brentford an opener in the 17th, pushing away a Mikkel Damsgaard effort and then blocking captain Nathan Collins’ follow-up shot after a goalmouth scramble.
Despite being a goal down at halftime, Brentford had 54 percent possession and five shots to Newcastle’s two and it was not long before the scores were level again with Schade heading in off a trademark long throw from Michael Kayode.
Brentford thought they had a penalty in the 61st when Burn downed Ouattara but the referee instead booked the Brentford player for diving.
Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa, out injured since his move to Tyneside from Brentford, was absent from the visiting squad but the home fans still let their feelings be known about the manner of his departure.
Newcastle’s miserable away form continues with 3-1 loss at Brentford
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Newcastle’s miserable away form continues with 3-1 loss at Brentford
- Sunday was their third straight away defeat in the league while Brentford moved up to 12th
Emirates NBA Cup forming ‘its own identity’, as final 8 teams advance
- NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations James Jones say players now “understand the value” of the competition
DUBAI: The Emirates NBA Cup continues to gather pace in its second showing, with eight teams advancing to the knockout rounds and league executives highlighting strong global interest, including significant growth in the Middle East.
The quarterfinal lineup features the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns. The quarterfinals begin on Dec. 9, followed by the semifinals on Dec. 13 and the championship game on Dec. 16, with both the semifinals and final hosted in Las Vegas.
The Emirates NBA Cup was established in 2023 and its first two events were won by the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.
A tournament that has changed perceptions
League officials say the Cup has quickly established itself as a competitive focal point in the early months of the season. James Jones, NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations, said players now approach the event with far stronger investment than during its launch year.
He explained that although the Cup concept felt unfamiliar at first, its structure and stakes have now become part of the league’s competitive rhythm.
“Once the players began to understand the concept of the Cup, they became excited because it created enhanced competition. The Cup has started to form its own identity. There are multiple ways to win: You can win the Cup, and you can also win the NBA Championship. There is nothing better than having two trophies in one season.”
Growing audiences in the Middle East
Interest in the Emirates NBA Cup continues to rise across international markets. Jones highlighted the Middle East as one of the fastest-growing regions for viewership, with Abu Dhabi’s consistent NBA presence playing a central role. The UAE capital hosted preseason games each year from 2022 to 2025, building a strong regional fan base and elevating awareness of the league.
“Viewership continues to soar,” he said. “Everyone was waiting to see how the league and the players would respond to the Cup, and now they can see that we are fully invested. Our global games, particularly in Abu Dhabi, have made the NBA more familiar to fans in the region. The growth over the last five years has been remarkable.”
This year’s knockout rounds feature several marquee names, including LeBron James and Luka Doncic, with the Lakers, Kevin Durant with the Suns, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Oklahoma City and Jalen Brunson leading the Knicks, among others. Their presence has lifted international engagement as the tournament approaches its decisive stages.
“Big names definitely boost viewership, and their presence also raises the level of competition,” Jones said. “The Cup gives young players a platform to show how good they are. Those moments usually only happen in the playoffs, but now we see them in December.”
McGrady: Cup brings playoff pressure earlier in the season
NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady shared a similar sentiment, praising the Emirates NBA Cup for giving developing teams valuable postseason-style exposure.
“It gives those bottom-feed teams that are struggling to put a roster together, to build a team and make a run to the playoffs, a chance to feel that playoff atmosphere again,” McGrady said. “Because it is in-season, it raises the competitive nature of the league.”
“In terms of competition, it is very competitive, and that is what we want.”
As the quarterfinals tip off on Dec. 9 and the semifinals draw closer in Las Vegas, the Emirates NBA Cup continues to establish itself as one of the most influential features of the NBA calendar, shaping early-season momentum and giving fans a December preview of the intensity usually reserved for the NBA playoffs in spring.
