Welcome to the Newcastle vs Brentford preview.
Saturday, February 7, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Newcastle continue a hectic February fixture list this weekend as they host Brentford in the Premier League.
The Toon will hope for some home comfort after difficult away games against PSG, Liverpool and Man City.
Brentford has had a great season so far and is aiming for a first away win in Newcastle in more than ninety years.
This is another NUFC match selected for live TV, with the late kick-off hopefully adding to the occasion as fans can enjoy an extra two and a half hours in the pub before the match.
Form
In the past six league matches, NUFC have won three, drawn one and lost two. Wins came in successive games against Burnley, Crystal Palace and Leeds, while we drew against Wolves and lost our last two games against Villa and Liverpool. We scored ten goals and conceded ten. The ten points won puts us eleventh in the league, but a win could put us into the top seven if other results go our way.
Brentford have also won three, drawn one and lost two of their past six games. There have been victories over Everton, the Mackems and Aston Villa, they drew against Tottenham and lost to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. They scored eight goals and conceded six. They are currently seventh in the league and a win could push them into the top six on goal difference.
Last time out
Newcastle headed to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening, hoping to reach their third League Cup final in the last four years. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, it was always going to be a big question, and it became more difficult for the Toon when they conceded again after just a few minutes. Three goals behind we missed golden chances from Willock and Gordon before Trippier tested the goalkeeper with a free-kick.
Unfortunately, Man City scored twice more in quick succession, making it 5-0 and eliminating the tie without any doubt. In the second half Toon rolled up his sleeves and played out of pride. We missed another golden chance from Wissa before Elanga scored a class goal to open his account for the club. More opportunities came and went, but in the end it was Man City who reached the Wembley final in March.
Brentford traveled to Aston Villa on Sunday and recorded an incredible 1-0 win against one of the surprise packages of the season. Just minutes after a man was sent off, the Bees scored on the stroke of half-time to silence Villa Park. The second half was tense, but they managed to secure the victory.
State attack!
-Newcastle have beaten Brentford in each of their last four visits to St James’ Park.
-Brentford has visited Newcastle eleven times in its entire history and lost nine of them. Draw one, win one.
-Brentford’s only ever win at Gallowgate came in the 1934/35 season.
Memorable match
In October 2016, Newcastle hosted Brentford in the Championship as Rafa Benitez looked for a third straight win.
The Toon would enjoy a dominant performance and finish the day second in the table. In a great first half, Atsu shot narrowly wide and Perez had a goal disallowed, before Clark opened the scoring with a header and Dwight Gayle doubled the lead. The points were well and truly secured when Gayle tapped home to put the Toon three goals up before Brentford pulled back a consolation. Newcastle finally started to find their rhythm after a difficult start to the Championship season and would end the season by becoming champions in the final minute of the final game of the season. Newcastle 3-1 Brentford.
Played for both
Carl Short showed early promise when signed by Sir Bobby in 2000. The England Under-21 forward needed just four minutes of his home debut to find the net with a powerful header against Derby County in an entertaining 3-2 win. Unfortunately, his time with the Toon was plagued by injuries and we never really saw the best of him. A highlight of his time at the Toon was the 6-2 win over Everton in 2002, when he volleyed home a volley at the Gallowgate End. He remains a case of ‘what could have been’. He played thirty-one games for Brentford between 2009 and 2011, scoring six goals.
Ivan Toon started his career coming through the youth ranks of Northampton Town. He signed for NUFC in 2015 but struggled to break into the first team, making just two league appearances. After a number of loan moves, he signed for Peterborough and then Brentford, where he scored sixty-seven league goals for the Bees before moving to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2024.
Yohan Wiss will make his first appearance against Brentford since signing for the Toon this summer. The forward spent four years as the bees scored forty-five goals in one hundred and thirty-seven marches. He has already scored three times for the Toon and will look to add to that tally against his old club.
Managers
Eddie Howe after a 3-1 defeat away at Manchester City:
“The goals were strange. They didn’t necessarily come from pressure but from individual mistakes. Following Liverpool’s lead, it’s a worrying trend. We were desperate for that first goal and if Manchester City get that, you know our task will be even more difficult. If you add up all our chances over the two games, there are a lot of missed opportunities that have really cost us a lot of money. I was really annoyed with the performance in the first half because I think we pride ourselves on being well organized and being tactical want to be able to tackle every problem the opponent has. That gives us, but that first half, I just don’t think we were good enough. Our matches weren’t good at all, I think. So yes, the first half was really disappointing.
Keith Andrews after a 1-0 win away at Aston Villa:
“We were excellent in the first half until the send-off. We played with personality and could have created more chances with the possession we had and the area we reached. The red card did not change the course of the game, it will never change the determination of the team because it is a collective in everything we do. Everyone left themselves out, they were sensational. There is solidity, there is courage, personality and growth from week to week and from month to month. I love watching us. There was a calmness in the way where we defended deep for a large part of the second half. There was confidence in each other. Whoever was on the field, it was a performance that typified us.’
Good cause
The Newcastle United Fan Food Bank will once again be raising money across the Gallowgate, gratefully receiving food, cash and toiletries for those in need. Of particular importance are non-perishable food and drink items (such as noodles, pasta, rice, canned food, soup, cereal, liquor, long-life milk, etc.) as well as toiletries such as shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste and sanitary products. Please give what you can, any donation is greatly appreciated.
For more information and/or to donate online, visit Newcastle Food Bank
Prediction
If we are to move up the ranks towards the European places it is imperative that we put together a winning streak, especially with the table being so tight.
Our home form has been good this season and I’m looking forward to continuing with a confidence-boosting win this weekend.
Wissa will be desperate to impress against his old club and a later kick-off time will help the atmosphere as Toon fans enjoy a goal-fest of sorts. Newcastle 3-1 Brentford.
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