Newcastle 3-3 Brentford: Eddie Howe era begins with six-goal thriller at St James' as Allan Saint-Maximin volleys second-half equaliser while new boss watches from home after Covid positive 

• Brentford travelled to face Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday 
• Jamaal Lascelles' opener was quickly cancelled-out by Ivan Toney 
• Rico Henry then put Brentford ahead before Joelinton made it level at the break
• Lascelles then scored in his own goal, before Allan-Saint Maximin levelled 

If Eddie Howe did drink, he would have emptied his hotel mini-bar by the end of this six-goal frenzy.

Confined to his riverside suite having tested positive for Covid-19, you can only hope one of Howe's symptoms is not brain fog, for trying to make sense of this will only add to the confusion.

It was crazy, chaotic and at times calamitous, and that just about captures life at Newcastle United. Only here could the new manager learn he was to miss his opening match less than 24 hours before kick-off.

The news had the feel of air escaping a balloon on Tyneside. There has been much excitement since Howe's arrival and him vowing to bring with him an attacking brand of football.

Indeed, he revealed during his unveiling his admiration for Newcastle's 'Entertainers' side of the mid-Nineties. This was certainly entertaining, in a Scary Movie sort of way, and Howe may well have been hiding behind his sofa every time Brentford went on the attack.

But while the sight of his side's defending was a cause for alarm, he would have at least been comforted by the manner in which they twice recovered to restore parity after first taking an early lead.

Even still, they remain the only team in the top four divisions without a win and are now bottom of the Premier League.

Maybe Howe's presence would have made a difference, for there were periods when Newcastle were in desperate need of direction with Brentford in control. 

Former Magpies striker Ivan Toney was by far the game's best player.

In the end, though, a draw was just about fair, if only because any result was possible during an afternoon when the pendulum was worked as hard as both backlines.

The goal that salvaged Newcastle's point was the best of the lot, a cross from substitute Ryan Fraser slammed home at the Gallowgate End on the volley by Allan Saint-Maximin 15 minutes from time. 

Howe, connected to the dugout by telephone and watching on a live stream, had given the instruction to bring on Fraser.

That the winger replaced defender Fabian Schar revealed the manager's attacking intent, and his strategy was very nearly rewarded with victory when Joelinton - who otherwise enjoyed his best game in a Newcastle shirt - slipped in front of goal late on.

'On another day we win the game,' said assistant Jason Tindall, and he had a point given Newcastle's 23 shots outnumbered Brentford's 10.

'It was a step in the right direction from an attacking and physical perspective. 

'When you look at the performance, it doesn't warrant us being bottom of the table.

'But there have been a lot of individual errors throughout the season. It was never going to be a quick fix, there is a lot of work to be done.'

Brentford boss Thomas Frank was relieved to stop the rot after four straight defeats, but said: 'When you lead twice it's frustrating not to get the three points. We need to defend better.'

The only logical conclusion after four goals were shared in the first half was that both defences aren't very good.

Newcastle led on 10 minutes when captain Jamaal Lascelles rose to meet a Matt Ritchie corner and headed in via the inside of the post. It was just reward for a furious start played out to the backdrop of 'Eddie Howe's black and white army'. 

But Howe's troops were soon on the retreat and, within 75 seconds, Brentford were level. Newcastle failed to win the first ball from the restart. They got nowhere near the second and third, either. The upshot was a chance for Toney, escaping the attention of Ritchie just inside the area.

His strike was low and hard but straight at Karl Darlow, who knelt to gather. It all looked so routine until the ball squirmed through his grasp and into the far corner. 

Toney would have had a second but for the face of Fabian Schar blocking his blast on the goal-line on 26 minutes.

So when Brentford took the lead shortly after the half hour, there was more than an air of inevitability. Sergi Canos was given space to measure a cross from the right and team-mate Rico Henry was afforded just as much room to apply a headed finish at the far post.

Newcastle's equaliser on 39 minutes was against the run of play, yet not at all surprising. Saint-Maximin's shot was blocked and, when Brentford were docile in reacting to the loose ball, Joelinton pounced to swipe into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Brentford were back in front just after the hour when Frank Onyeka's shot deflected in off Lascelles, but Howe's changes invigorated both the crowd and his players and duly earned a point.

He has to change a whole lot more, however, before there is any chance of Newcastle emerging from the bottom three.