Newcastle United will return to the Premier League this Saturday as they take on Brentford at St. James’ Park for the fifth-round game of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
The Magpies are under pressure to win here, having endured a poor run of form just before the international break. Eddie Howe’s side began the season with a brilliant home win against Aston Villa, but since then have been beaten three times in a row.
So this game is a must-win for them. However, on their path is a Brentford side that has enjoyed a solid, unbeaten start to the season.
Thomas Frank’s side are targeting to win three consecutive top-flight away matches for the very first time in their history and will hope they can catch Newcastle slumbering again at home on Saturday.
But who will come out on top in this encounter?
Pre-match Stats
- Newcastle United have kept only one clean sheet in their last 15 matches.
- They have scored 2+ goals in six of their last ten home matches.
- The visitors have avoided defeat against visitors Brentford in their last eight league H2Hs (W7, D1).
- Seven of Brentford’s last nine goals scored on the road have come after half-time.
- The visitors have lost only once in their last 12 outings (W7, D4).
- Newcastle’s Alexander Isak’s last four PL goals have all come at home.
- Bryan Mbeumo has scored nine goals in his last ten games for club and country.
Match Preview
After a positive end to last season and a good summer recruitment exercise, Newcastle fans would have been hopeful that the new season would bring so much good.
But after a 5-1 win over Aston Villa in their opening game, things have gone really bad for Eddie Howe’s side with three consecutive losses to Man City, Liverpool and Brighton.
The most painful loss in that series came in their last outing at home, where they were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool despite playing an hour of the game with a man more after the Reds were given an early red card.
While some solace can be taken from those three defeats given that they came against teams who finished in the top six last season, Newcastle, who make their much-awaited return to UEFA Champions League football in the coming week, need to prove themselves against the Premier League’s finest if they’re to compete on the continental scene.
With two weeks to rethink his approach during the international break, Eddie Howe will be hoping to sort out his defense, which has failed to keep a clean sheet this season.
Meanwhile, Brentford will travel to St. James’ Park in good form, having not tasted defeat this season in all competitions. Thomas Frank’s side took a point from Tottenham at home but have had their best results this season away from home.
First, they beat Fulham 3-0 in the PL away from home before a 2-1 win over Newport in the Carabao Cup made it two away wins in all competitions this season. Their target will now be to make it three consecutive top-flight away matches for the very first time in their history.
Supporters of the West London outfit will be expecting a good result here, considering their side have lost only once in their last 12 outings (W7, D4).
Team News
Eddie Howe has a few injury worries, with Emile Krafth and Joe Willock all out for a few weeks. Still, Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Javier Manquillo and Sandro Tonalli are all injury doubts for this tie.
Meanwhile, Thomas Frank will be without the suspended Ivan Toney, Joshua Dasilva, Shandon Baptiste and Mikkel Damsgaard.
Predicted Lineups
Predicted Newcastle United Lineup: Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schaer, Daniel Burn, Matt Targett, Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, Callum Wilson, Anthony Gordon.
Predicted Brentford Lineup: Mark Flekken, Nathan Collins, Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Aaron Hickey, Mathias Jensen, Christian Noergaard, Vitaly Janelt, Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa.
