Newcastle United vs Brentford Preview: Form, Team News & Prediction | OneFootball

Newcastle United’s hot pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League faces a daunting task in the shape of mid-table Brentford on Wednesday.

Optimism is sky-high at St James’ Park after the Magpies’ broke their 70-year title drought in major competitions on the stroke of March’s international break.

Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak inspired Newcastle to a 2-1 victory against Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium, sending the Toon Army into raptures.

However, Eddie Howe’s side must quickly refocus as their quest to return to the Champions League hangs in the balance after losing three of their last five league games (W2).

Brentford’s visit won’t make it any easier on the Magpies. The visitors are taking this trip in high spirits after beating Bournemouth 2-1 on the road in their last league outing.

Visiting manager Thomas Frank has set his sights on leading the Bees to their best-ever top-flight finish, aiming to go at least one better than their ninth-place position in the 2022/23 season.

With only four points separating Brentford from eighth-placed Fulham, that seems like a distinct possibility, although they must improve their patchy form to increase their chances.

Dominant run

Two points off the top four, Newcastle’s position is growing increasingly uncertain, even though they squeezed past West Ham United in their last league game.

Bruno Guimaraes’ second-half winner inspired the Magpies to a narrow 1-0 win in London, providing a perfect response to a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on their last road trip.

Recording Consecutive Premier League victories for the first time since mid-January has become mandatory for Howe’s side now that they face Chelsea and Manchester City in an intense top-four race.

However, a recent league win provides momentum, and they’ll back themselves to build on it against Brentford, a side they haven’t lost to in six home meetings (W5, D1).

Scoring 3+ goals in four of those six encounters, the Magpies will hope to shake off a poor record of just one win in their last five Wednesday-held Premier League fixtures (D1, L3).

History awaits the Bees

Brentford can still make a late European push as they trail their hosts by only six points, highlighting the importance of posting their first win at St James’ Park in the 21st century.

Frank’s charges seem well-positioned to do just that, with the aforementioned victory at the Vitality Stadium marking their third in five league outings (D1, L1).

Outstanding away form has fuelled Brentford’s recent success. They’ve won their last five Premier League games on the road, becoming the only team to do so this season.

Extending that streak to six would make them just the second side in Premier League history to win six successive away matches while starting the round outside the top ten.

The Bees’ remarkable 4-2 home triumph in December’s reverse fixture will give them confidence, although they subsequently lost 3-1 on this ground in League Cup action.

Team News

Ruled out with a season-ending foot injury, Lewis Hall has joined long-term absentees Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman in the treatment room.

There’s a more significant concern on Howe’s mind, as Newcastle cannot call upon Anthony Gordon due to suspension.

Brentford’s Michael Kayode, Fabio Carvalho, Aaron Hickey, Igor Thiago, Josh Dasilva and Gustavo Nunes will not feature.

Prediction

Newcastle cannot take their long-standing dominance in this fixture for granted, considering Brentford’s formidable away form suggests they are more than capable of causing an upset at St James’ Park.

However, this is still a hostile realm for any visiting team, and the Magpies should find a way to win.