Alexander Isak insists his Newcastle United team-mates knew they needed to show something entirely different in the second half as Eddie Howe delivered his team talk in the away dressing room of the Gtech Community Stadium. The Magpies were trailing at the interval after a woeful first half which saw Brentford awarded two penalties after a disallowed goal for Ivan Toney.
The former Newcastle striker made no mistake from 12 yards at the second time of asking after Isak gave away a penalty for a high foot on Rico Henry. But the second half was a different story entirely as Howe's double substitution at the break worked wonders.
Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon were introduced from the bench and before long Joelinton and Isak himself had found the net to turn the tie on its head. After the game the Swede was asked about Howe's words at half-time.
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"We talked about looking forward and leaving the first half behind. We all knew it was not good enough," he told Premier League Productions. "He made two good substitutions. Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon gave us good energy and changed the game for us.
"It was important for the team and for me [the goal]. I felt I had not come into the game yet. Callum came in good and it was unselfish of him and a good finish for me.
"We are all doing well and contributing. I am happy to be part of this. Every game is important. We know it will not be easy but we are in good form and we need to keep going."
Isak was penalised in the first half after a clumsy and unintentional foul on Henry, allowing Toney to atone for his earlier missed spot-kick. On the penalty, the Newcastle striker admitted: "It felt like a 50-50 situation where I tried to kick the ball and he dives into me. It all went pretty quick. I didn't see him coming."
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