Bruno on a big win for Newcastle
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It felt very good, in the changing room before he game we knew today was important for us, chasing European football for next season. The points are crucial, we keep dreaming and believing.
It was a tough game, Brighton are a good team. Today for everything we have done we deserve the win.
They had a lot of chances. In the first half we were better but second half they were better. I am glad we could keep three points.
We are looking up not down. We can still play European football next season, we must win the next three games.
Full-time scores
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Brentford 3 West Ham 0
Newcastle 3 Brighton 1
Wolves 1 Sunderland 1
Brentford steal a march on Brighton in the race for European qualification featuring the league’s most data-driven clubs. West Ham’s defeat opens the door for Spurs tomorrow, win and they will be out of the bottom three. But that is a tall order at Aston Villa given Spurs’ injuries.
GOOOALL! Barnes wraps it up for Newcastle (Newcastle 3 Brighton 1)
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That Minteh miss could well prove the difference. Verbruggen cleaned out Wissa but that ball ran free for Barnes to finish into the empty net. A much-needed win for Newcastle and Howe is beaming.
90 minutes: Brentford 3 West Ham 0
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Brentford’s fans were calling for Josh Dasilva to come on as a substitute, and boss Keith Andrews has sent him on. It is the injury-hit midfielder’s first appearance in 28 months.
89 minutes: Newcastle 2 Brighton 1
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Minteh has somehow missed from a few yards out after great work by Rutter. What a miss. Newcastle hanging on.
GOOOALLL! Damsgaard with a fine finish (Brentford 3 West Ham 0)
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Game over, and it is fair to say West Ham will not be staying up on goal difference. Brentford will finish this game in sixth which could be enough for a Champions League place.
77 minutes: Brentford 2 West Ham 0
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West Ham hit the woodwork for the third time this afternoon! Summerville with the solo run and shot that cracked off the post. Can they find the goal that would make it an interesting finish?
74 minutes: Brentford 2 West Ham 0
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Brentford’s second goal has sucked the life out of West Ham and their fans. They know they’ll be back in the relegation zone tomorrow night if it stays the same and Spurs beat Aston Villa.
72 minutes: Newcastle 2 Brighton 1
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Pascal Gross feeds a menacing low cross through the Newcastle six-yard box but first Welbeck and then Van Hecke cannot connect. Brighton knocking at the door, and Howe has reacted with a triple sub: Hall, Barnes and Wissa on for Willock, Murphy and Osula.
GOOOAALL! Hinshelwood pulls one back (Newcastle 2 Brighton 1)
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We thought the nerves at St James’ Park had been allayed, but they may well return with interest now. Fine finish from Brighton’s versatile Hinshelwood, and Hurzeler will now throw the kitchen sink at it.
Newcastle are their own worst enemy in the second half with aimless long balls punted out from goalkeeper Nick Pope gifting possession back to Brighton. And finally they are made to pay as as Hinselwood finishes off Danny Welbeck’s cute pass in behind.
60 minutes: Brentford 2 West Ham 0
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Dango Outarra has curled a shot just wide of the far post. West Ham hanging by a thread at the Gtech.
GOOOALL! Thiago buries the penalty (Brentford 2 West Ham 0)
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West Ham find themselves two down after 54 minutes, and that is Thiago’s 22nd Premier League goal of the season.
PENALTY BRENTFORD! (Brentford 1 West Ham 0)
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Diouf, a player linked with Manchester United this week, has brought down Outtara just inside the box. Trouble for West Ham, who could pay for those missed first-half opportunities.
We’re back under way
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Goals and more updates from the second halves to follow shortly.
Half-time scores
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Brentford 1 West Ham 0
Newcastle 2 Brighton 0
Wolves 0 Sunderland 1
That really was a breathless first half, and somehow the score is only 1-0. West Ham’s Taty Castellanos hit the post twice while Mavropanos had a goal disallowed for a tight offside, while at the other end Bees full-back Keane Lewis-Potter was denied by a remarkable save from Mads Hermansen. As for the own goal, Mavropanos was caught really badly by Kayode as both stretched for the ball. Anywhere else on the pitch, Kayode might have been in trouble.
45 minutes: Brentford 1 West Ham 0
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More chances for West Ham! Castellanos shoots just wide from 25 yards out before going close from Bowen’s corner. Their January signing offers so much but he is not the most efficient.
40 minutes: Brentford 1 West Ham 0
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Walker-Peters has just saved West Ham’s bacon. Lewis-Potter’s head met a Damsgaard corner but Hermansen saved, and just when it looked like Outtara would surely score the rebound, Walker-Peters clears off the line.
32 minutes: Brentford 1 West Ham 0
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Castellanos has hit the post again, this time with a header from a Bowen corner. West Ham unfortunate to be behind on the balance of play, they are carrying a threat.
Mavropanos now has two own goals to his name at the Gtech, having also scored one for West Ham in a 3-2 defeat in November 2023.
RED CARD! Dan Ballard off for a hair pull
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We are seeing more of these incidents. The big Sunderland centre-back has been sent off for pulling the hair of Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare.
GOOOOALL! Dan Burn adds Newcastle’s second (Newcastle 2 Brighton 0)
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After such a nervous start to the game at St James’ Park, Newcastle should be able to relax now. Not good news for Brighton’s European push.
Dan Burn missed a wonderful chance to equalise against Bournemouth late on but he has just headed Newcastle 2-0 in front against Brighton. Newcastle almost scored with a rapid counterattack; Joe Willock and Osula linked up really well. From the resulting corner, Bruno put the ball on Burn’s head at the near post and he makes no mistake.
22 minutes: Brentford 1 West Ham 0
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West Ham thought they were level through yet another Mavropanos header but it is ruled out for offside after a VAR check. It was a very tight one.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) May 2, 2026#BREWHU – 21' VAR OVERTURN
VAR checked the referee's call of goal – and established that Mavropanos was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed. pic.twitter.com/mgWTGPLYJn
18 minutes: Brentford 1 West Ham 0
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Almost a quick replay from West Ham, but Taty Castellanos hits the post. Nuno has seen enough to suggest West Ham have a goal or two in them in this game.
GOOOALLL! Wolves 0 Sunderland 1
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Defender Nordi Mukiele has scored the opening goal at Molineux. What a signing he has been. He rose highest to meet Granit Xhaka’s corner.
GOOOAALLL! Kayode pops up at the back post (Brentford 1 West Ham 0)
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Mavropanos was hurt in the process as the right-back came sliding in, but West Ham have it all to do now. The door, potentially, could be opening for Spurs.
GOOOALL! Verbruggen caught out and Osula scores (Newcastle 1 Brighton 0)
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Bruno Guimaraes’ pass in behind the Brighton defence tempted the goalkeeper out of his box, and Jacob Murphy skipped around him. Could have been a red card had Verbruggen hacked him down, but the winger crossed for Osula to head Newcastle into the lead against the run of play.
Newcastle had not started well but minutes after Carlos Baleba hit the bar for the visitors, they are in front. Bruno’s pass out wide to Jacob Murphy is brilliant, enticing Bart Verbruggen off his line. When the goalkeeper does not get there - wiping out Murphy outside the box- the winger gets up and crosses for Osula to head in.
8 minutes: Brentford 0 West Ham 0
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Kelleher’s turn to make a smart save, but Pablo should have got more power behind his shot from eight or nine yards out.
6 minutes: Brentford 0 West Ham 0
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Brentford have had the better of it so far, with Dango Outarra firing a shot just wide after a couple of minutes.
5 minutes: Newcastle 0 Brighton 0
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Really bright start from the visitors, Nick Pope making a fine save in the early exchanges. The groaning and tutting has started already in sections of the St James’ Park crowd.
Big early save from Nick Pope to prevent Brighton taking an early lead. A long ball over the head of Lewis Miley did the damage and Mitoma simply rolled the ball across the edge of the area for Jack Hinshelwood to hit first time. Pope read his shot though and got a strong hand to it.
St James’ Park sounds nervous and the home team are already finding it difficult to get into a rhythm.
KICK OFF!
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We are under way in the three Premier League three o’clock games.
A pivotal 90 minutes upcoming for West Ham and Spurs
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This really feels like a massive game for West Ham, against a Brentford team without a win in their last six outings. When West Ham lost 2-1 at home to Nottingham Forest on January 6 they were seven points adrift of safety and 13 behind Tottenham. Win this one, and they’ll be five points clear of both.
Nuno on continuity in his team selection
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A lot of our players [who are on the bench] are working really well and I’m not being totally fair with them, but we have an idea for this game and they know we’re counting on them.
Today’s going to be a tough match. We’re going to perform well and try to compete.
Thiaw wants Newcastle to correct their home form
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If you look in the past, St James’ Park was our strength, I think we have to come back, we have to make sure today we bring energy from the first minute to the fans, then we have a great chance to win this game.
Jack Hinshelwood on Brighton’s good record vs Newcastle
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Newcastle have failed to win any of their last five league games against Brighton, losing three of those, including a 2-1 defeat at the Amex earlier this season.
Speaking before the game about that record, Hinshelwood said: “We had good experiences here last year. We know every time we come here, it’s a tough game. I think we played two tough games last year. We know coming here today is going to be the exact same, so we’ve got to be ready to give 110 per cent. If we’re going to get anything from the game we have to be at our best. We’re going to come here and give our all and hopefully get a result.”
Wolves vs Sunderland team news
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Wolves XI: Bentley, Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, Toti Gomes, Pedro Lima, Joao Gomes, Andre Trindade, Hugo Bueno, Armstrong, Mane, Arokodare
Subs: Doherty, Wolfe, Hwang, Rodrigo Gomes, Bellegarde, Tchatchoua, Angel Gomes, Edozie, Gracey
Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Mandava, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Talbi, Le Fee, Brobbey
Subs: Ellborg, Cirkin, Geertruida, Rigg, Mayenda, O’Nien, Isidor, Diarra, Bi
Howe turns to trusted midfield with five signings on bench
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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe really needs a win and he has turned to the old guard to try and get it against Brighton.
For the first time since January, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton start together in midfield while veterans Dan Burn and Nick Pope start at left back and in goal.
Joe Willock, Newcastle’s third longest serving outfield player, begins the game on the left and Jacob Murphy, the second longest serving player starts on the right.
With Sven Botman at centre back the core of the team is the most experienced available to Howe. Given how edgy the atmosphere could be at St James’ Park this afternoon it makes sense.
Of the summer signings – in what can now be freely described as a terrible window – only Malick Thiaw starts the game with Aaron Ramsdale, Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade all on the bench.
Newcastle XI: Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock, Jacob Murphy, Osula, Joelinton
Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Hall, Wissa, Gordon, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade, Ramsey
Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gross, Baleba, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Mitoma, Welbeck
Subs: Steele, Igor, Dunk, Rutter, Kostoulas, Ayari, De Cuyper, O’Riley, Veltman
West Ham unchanged from the win over Everton
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Plenty to play for for both sides in sunny west London, with Brentford pushing for Europe and West Ham fighting for their lives. Not too much tension among the fans, though, if the noise levels coming from the various beer gardens along the Thames by Kew Bridge is anything to go by. Unusually, both teams are unchanged for this one
Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Yarmolyuk, Jensen, Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade, Thiago
Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Ajer, Janelt, Donovan, Furo
West Ham XI: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf, Bowen, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Pablo Felipe, Castellanos
Subs: Areola, Wilson, Traore, Lamadrid, Todibo, Magassa, Wan-Bissaka, Scarles, Kante
Eddie Howe believes Newcastle have a bright future
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Manager Eddie Howe said on Friday that Newcastle United’s Saudi Arabian owners remained as committed as ever to the club’s success, even as their Public Investment Fund prepares to cut ties with the LIV Golf series.
PIF, which spent more than $5 billion on LIV Golf since it launched in 2022, said on Thursday that it would cut funding at the close of the 2026 season, leaving the breakaway circuit scrambling for new backers.
The sovereign wealth fund, chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is involved in several other sports and acquired Newcastle in October 2021.
Asked about meeting with PIF this week, Howe told reporters: “The owners and representatives of PIF were over and it was constructive, good meetings and I was a small part of that.
“It’s always constructive because they clearly care so much about the football club,” the English manager added, speaking ahead of a home meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
“The long-term planning that is clearly going on, on a number of levels, it’s exciting times ahead for the club, regardless of what happens short term...
“The desire is unchanged, to try and get to the top of the Premier League, to try and win as many trophies consistently as possible. I don’t think while PIF are our owners, or part owners, majority owners, that will change.”
In its statement announcing it was cutting funding to LIV Golf, PIF added that it remained committed to deploying capital internationally in line with its investment strategy, “including current and future investments in various sports as a priority sector.”
Newcastle enjoyed some success in their first few seasons under Saudi ownership, twice qualifying for the Champions League and winning the League Cup last year.
However, they have struggled this season and sit 14th in the Premier League standings after four straight defeats, leading to questions over Howe’s future at the club.
“I’ve never needed clarity in my head, in the sense that I’m here, I’m working and I’m committed,” he said.
“A football club has to do what a football club has to do. The football club needs to see we are going in the right direction and there’s a positive feeling and fighting on all fronts.
“You can talk as much as you want but the proof is in how the team performs. I’m under no illusions that that needs to be positive.”