Newcastle get angry as Manchester United brutally taunted and £150m FFP boost banked - 5 things

Newcastle United have finished in seventh following a 4-2 win against Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season.

Newcastle went into half-time 3-0 up thanks to goals from Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak, but Brentford were much better after the break and strikes from Vitaly Janelt and Yoane Wissa set up a grandstand finish. Bruno Guimaraes, however, spared any late nerves after knocking in the rebound from Isak's free-kick.

Here are five things we learned from the game at the Gtech Community Stadium as Newcastle wait to discover their European fate.

READ MORE: Brentford 2-4 Newcastle United highlights

Newcastle get the job done to stay in race for Europe

On paper, it was the ideal final day fixture for a side attempting to stay in the race for Europe. Newcastle were facing Brentford, who had long secured safety, and who, seemingly, had nothing to play for aside from the chance to finish in 15th place. However, you would have been foolish to think that the Bees were on the beach.

Brentford had not lost at home since March and Thomas Frank's team had suffered just one defeat in their previous eight games. There was no chance that Brentford were going to make it easy for Newcastle, particularly given the importance of this game for the Magpies, and even Thomas Frank admitted that 'definitely added something to it'.

You could tell as much from the off. In the space of just a few minutes, Ivan Toney had a goal disallowed; saw a shot kept out by the foot of Nick Pope; and sent an overhead kick over the bar.

However, ruthless Newcastle soon settled and took Brentford apart - even after Joelinton submitted a late contender for miss of the season with the goal gaping in the ninth minute. It was Harvey Barnes who got the ball rolling midway through the first half when the forward got his head on the end of Bruno Guimaraes' whipped cross to open the scoring.

Brentford looked stunned and it soon got worse for the hosts. Ethan Pinnock failed to deal with a punt forward in the 36th minute and Alexander Isak pounced, dispossessing the Brentford defender, before racing clear down the left and unselfishly sliding the ball across to the unmarked Jacob Murphy. Murphy could not miss and the forward doubled Newcastle's advantage.

The roles were reversed just a couple of minutes later. This time Murphy turned creator after winning the ball from the casual Sergio Reguilon down the right. Murphy slipped the ball into the path of Bruno, who threaded it through to Isak, and Newcastle's top scorer fired home to make it 3-0.

However, it would not be Newcastle without a twist or two - even from such a commanding position. Vitaly Janelt pulled one back for much-improved Brentford after the break, following a smart first-time finish, and Yoane Wissa made it 3-2 with a curling strike Bruno, though, restored Newcastle's two-goal advantage late on on an afternoon the Magpies set a new club record for most goals scored in a Premier League campaign (85).

An away day to remember as Manchester United taunted

Newcastle were clinging on to seventh and a potential Europa Conference League place when Manchester United took the lead at Brighton. Suddenly, at 3-2, it felt a little nervy for the visitors.

That was when fearless Lewis Hall took the matter into his own hands and Newcastle were awarded a penalty after the young defender was tripped by Bryan Mbeumo late on. VAR downgraded the penalty to a free-kick to leave Newcastle's bench furious - assistant Jason Tindall was booked - after the initial contact was deemed to be outside the box but it did not matter. Alexander Isak's free-kick was spilled by Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken straight into the path of Bruno Guimaraes and the Brazil international restored Newcastle's two-goal advantage before throwing on a magic (bucket) hat as he celebrated in front of the away end.

This ultimately proved a memorable final day for the travelling support, who repeatedly chanted: "Who the f--- are Man United?" and "Europe again, olé, olé." All eyes are now on the FA Cup final next weekend. Newcastle know that if hot favourites Manchester City retain the competition, they will be playing in the Europa Conference League next season. Newcastle at least did their bit.

Angry players show mettle on the road

This was the site of a crucial win for Newcastle last season on the way to qualifying for the Champions League. The Magpies showed their mettle to come from behind at half-time that afternoon, but this has been a different side on the road for some time now. Roy Keane even suggested that Newcastle 'were not as tough as they think'.

After all, only Brentford and relegated Luton Town and Sheffield United have lost more Premier League games on their travels than injury-hit Newcastle (11) this season. Newcastle have also conceded a whopping 40 away goals in the top-flight - which is the fourth-worst return in the division.

Something had to change on the final day and Eddie Howe, tellingly, made several tweaks to his side. Nick Pope made his first appearance since December; Joelinton was handed his first start in more than four months; Fabian Schar returned to the starting line-up in place of Kieran Trippier as Emil Krafth moved across to right-back; and Harvey Barnes lined up from the off after Anthony Gordon was ruled out with an ankle injury.

The quartet all made a huge difference. Pope denied Toney with big saves at 0-0 and 3-1; Schar reformed what has been a strong central defensive partnership with Dan Burn; Joelinton's bite and engine gave Newcastle's midfield a new dimension; and it was Barnes who opened the scoring with the Magpies' crucial first goal.

It was far from straightforward - it never is, of course - but when Newcastle could have crumbled at both 0-0 and 3-2, the black-and-whites showed some much-needed mettle on the road to get over the line. In some ways, a late melee embodied that spirit after Neal Maupay scythed down Nick Pope and the Newcastle goalkeeper's team-mates rushed onto the scene. When Brentford fans chanted 'England's number four!', the smiling Pope responded by reminding them of the scoreline with his fingers.

Was this a competitive farewell for some?

Newcastle will immediately fly out to Australia for post-season friendlies against Spurs and the A-League All Stars, but this may be the last time some of these players are involved in a competitive game for the club. It remains to be seen if Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummett's contracts are extended - the latter came on in stoppage time and was serenaded with chants of 'if Dummett scores, we're on the pitch!' - while there are also question marks about the long-term futures of, among others, Martin Dubravka, Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson in a window Newcastle will trade.

Eddie Howe, for his part, expects at least Wilson to still be at the club next season but the number nine's situation sums up the delicate dilemma Newcastle face this summer as the 32-year-old enters the final year of his contract. Despite Wilson's injury issues, can Newcastle afford to lose a player who is second only to Alan Shearer in the club's all-time Premier League top scorer list given the cost of a replacement?

The potential £150m prize banked

There was not just a potential place in Europe at stake for Newcastle on the final day. Securing seventh place will also be worth an extra few million pounds in merit payments.

Although this game was not broadcast in the UK, Newcastle have had 25 league fixtures shown live here over the course of the campaign and stand to bank a considerable facility fees payment. After doing some rough calculations, and after using last season's figures as a guide, Newcastle stand to make an overall figure in the region of £150m when the top-flight's broadcast and central commercial revenues are dished out.