A GAME of three crucial refereeing decisions, two of which went against Newcastle United. But it was the one that went for the Magpies that proved decisive as Callum Wilson’s penalty secured a much-needed victory over Brentford.

Newcastle saw a second-half effort from Wilson controversially disallowed for the merest of touches on Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken and also saw a penalty award overturned after referee Craig Pawson eventually decided that the ball had flicked off Bryan Mbuemo’s head before striking the Brentford forward’s hand in the 79th minute.

Fifteen minutes earlier, however, and an equally contentious penalty award was allowed to stand despite Anthony Gordon appearing to go down under the slightest of contact from Flekken, who was trying to shepherd the ball beyond his own goalline.

Wilson stepped up to make it ten successful penalties from ten in a Newcastle shirt, and the Magpies were able to claim a welcome victory that will enable them to head to Milan next week with a spring in their step. Having recorded a second win of the season, Eddie Howe can take his players into the Champions League without having to worry about the domestic situation they are leaving behind.

Howe made five changes to his side, bringing in Sven Botman, Sean Longstaff, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes and Wilson, and it took Newcastle’s re-modelled side most of the first half to start getting into sort of rhythm.

They should have been behind after just four minutes, with Aaron Hickey finding himself in a huge pocket of space inside the 18-yard box as he broke onto Mathias Jensen’s pass. The full-back had plenty of time to pick his spot, but drilled a strike straight into the chest of Nick Pope, who kept the ball out.

Brentford’s energetic pressing caused Newcastle problems in the opening half-hour, and the visitors threatened again midway through the first half. Jensen fired over a hugely-inviting cross from the right, but a sliding Yoane Wissa somehow failed to make any contact with the ball inside the six-yard box. Any kind of touch, and the net would have bulged.

Newcastle’s first effort at goal did not arrive until the 28th minute, and even then, it was a tame one as Fabian Schar drilled in a long-range shot that was deflected well wide. From the resultant corner, however, the Magpies almost claimed the lead.

Dan Burn nodded Kieran Trippier’s set-piece to an unmarked Bruno Guimaraes at the back post, but while the Brazilian was only four yards out, he could only direct his own header at the legs of Brentford goalkeeper Flekken, who was therefore able to save.

Three minutes later, and Flekken was involved again, getting a hand to Barnes’ low cross to ensure that neither Wilson nor Gordon were able to stab home.

That was a moment of decisiveness from Flekken, but the Brentford goalkeeper was fortunate to survive when was far less imposing shortly before the hour mark.

Ethan Pinnock headed the ball straight up in the air after Trippier crossed from the right, and Flekken missed his attempted punch under pressure from two or three Newcastle players.

Wilson bundled the ball home, was adjudged to have fouled the Brentford goalkeeper. Subsequent replays suggested that if there was any contact, it was inconsequential.

Newcastle’s players felt understandably aggrieved, but they did not have to wait long for another crucial marginal call to go in their favour.

With Hickey attempting to shepherd the ball back to his keeper on the left of the Brentford box, Gordon threatened to steal possession and went down under the slightest of contact from Flekken.

It looked like the Newcastle winger was looking for a penalty – and he got it when referee Pawson pointed to the spot despite the protest of the visiting side.

VAR decided not to intervene, and Wilson stepped up to fire a nerveless spot-kick into the top right-hand corner.

Pawson awarded a second spot-kick with 11 minutes remaining, but this time, the on-field decision did not stand.

Barnes’ back-post header flicked the head of Mbuemo before striking the Brentford forward on the hand. A spot-kick was initially awarded, but a VAR check resulted in Pawson checking his pitch-side monitor, and the penalty decision was subsequently overturned.