Newcastle United look to reignite their season with a Premier League clash against Brentford at St James’ Park.
Victory could see Newcastle climb back into the top ten and potentially leapfrog Brentford with a win, whilst Thomas Frank’s Bees can possibly go seventh with a win if Crystal Palace lose elsewhere.
Team News
Elliott Anderson is set to return for Newcastle after he withdrew from the Scotland squad with a knock.
Javier Manquillo (groin), Sven Botman (ankle) and Sandro Tonali (muscle) are doubts but Emil Krafth (knee) and Joe Willock (hamstring/Achilles) remain absent.
Brentford could welcome Mikkel Damsgaard back into contention if he passes a late fitness test, having missed their 2-2 draw against Bournemouth with a minor adductor injury.
Neal Maupay could make his first appearance for the Bees since May 2019, having re-joined on loan from Everton on Deadline Day.
Shandon Baptiste (shoulder), Josh Dasilva (hamstring) and Ivan Toney (suspnesion) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle host Brentford at St James’ Park in a 5:30pm BST kick-off on Saturday 16 September live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle are unbeaten in their four previous Premier League meetings against Brentford (W3, D1).
- Brentford have claimed just one point from their two previous Premier League visits to Newcastle (D1, L1).
- Suspended Brentford striker, Toney scored from the penalty spot in both meetings against Newcastle last season.
- Newcastle have scored first in both of their two home matches this season (W1, L1).
- A draw here would see Brentford draw three consecutive league matches in the Premier League for the very first time.
Prediction
With three defeats in their last four games, Newcastle will be disappointed with how their winning start has quickly soured yet they were just outclassed at Brighton across the pitch in a tough defeat, which they must write off because they haven’t really had much luck there.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies now must refocus because this is a winnable game given their form against Brentford, but they are going to have to be more solid at the back especially if they get ahead because they’ve conceded from in front during their two home games.
Brentford meanwhile seem to have that champion mentality because when things haven’t gone too well so far this season, they somehow have grinded out draws but they must sort out their end product which has been their Achilles heel otherwise they could well be sat in the top four.
Goals therefore do feel like a sure-fire certainty here but unless Newcastle sort out their defensive issues, I fancy Brentford to get the job done now that Maupay is back and hopefully ready to fill Toney’s void in terms of being a key finisher to attacks.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Brentford
Result: Newcastle 1-0 Brentford
Leave a Reply