Brentford (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction

Olly Hawkins

One year ago, everything changed. The end of the miserable Mike Ashley era and the start of something special at Newcastle United, as ambitious new owners finally arrived at St James’ Park.

The dark clouds hanging above our heads had gone, replaced with hope, excitement and a genuine feeling that our sleeping giant of a football club had awoken.

The past 12 months have been special. Celebrating a fresh start, surviving relegation in style against all odds, enjoying every minute of the refreshing Eddie Howe, recruiting brilliantly, uniting as a city and enjoying games again at St James’ Park.

On that note, we return to home turf this weekend after ending our winless run with a convincing 4-1 victory over Fulham last Saturday, facing a tough yet beatable Brentford side who came away from this fixture with a 3-3 draw last season.

With Wor Flags set to kick things off with a special display and the players keen to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this term, this has all the makings of another special occasion at St James’ Park.

Let’s hope we can build on last week’s win and consolidate our spot in the top seven, as a win would turn a solid start into a very good one!

Team news

Alexander Isak has been ruled out once again with a “thigh injury”, however Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton could return after training all week.

Jonjo Shelvey is edging closer from a long injury layoff – he’s due back in training today – but this game will come too soon, with Karl Darlow (ankle) and Emil Krafth (ACL) also ruled out.

For Brentford, captain Pontus Jansson has been ruled out, with Sergi Canos, Christian Norgaard and Keane Lewis-Potter also set to be absent for Thomas Frank.

Predicted line ups

(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Targett – S Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Joelinton.

I think Howe could make two changes here, even if there’s every chance he sticks with the 11 that won comfortably last weekend.

Starting in midfield, I can see Sean Longstaff keeping his place for three reasons. He did well – and scored – at Fulham, Howe has talked him up this week and him starting in that deeper role allows Bruno to thrive in a slightly more attacking role.

Elsewhere, with Joelinton fit again I think he could replace Murphy down the left. The latter did well at Craven Cottage but he often freezes at St James’ Park, not to mention the fact big Joe’s height could be beneficial against a physical Brentford side.

It would be great to see Saint-Maximin back from the off, but I get the feeling he’ll be used an an impact sub after missing the past six weeks with a hamstring injury.

At left-back, Dan Burn could keep his place – again to deal with Brentford’s height – as he was solid at Fulham, however I feel we’d have more balance bringing Matt Targett back into the side.

Predicted Brentford XI: Raya – Hickey, Ajer, Mee, Henry – Janelt, Jensen, Baptiste – Mbuemo, Toney, Damsgaard.

One to watch: Ivan Toney – Fresh from an England call-up, Toney returns to Tyneside with another point to prove. A real handful who can score all sorts of goals, the former NUFC forward is the man we must contain alongside the lively Bryan Mbeumo.

Prediction

After drawing the last two home games against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth – two sides who sat back and looked to frustrate – we’ll be looking to get back to winning ways on Tyneside; and I think we will.

The convincing victory at Fulham will boost our confidence, with the return of Callum Wilson also coming at the perfect time.

Willock and Wilson to score and Eddie’s Mags to take all three points!

Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Brentford

Whatever happens, it’s been one hell of a year – and it’s only going to get better!

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

View all posts by Olly Hawkins →

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67 thoughts on “Brentford (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction”

  1. I’m not sure how Eddie is thinking around the defence. BDB and Lascelles would be good against an aerial threat, whilst Schar and Botman are better ball players and better against attacks that rely on possession round the box. Does he therefore pick the pair depending upon the opposition?

    In midfield I agree that getting Bruno forward is important and therefore a good CDM is important. ATM we only have Shelvey and Sean, neither of whom are naturals.

    Looking at Brentford I suspect that we will dominate possession but they rely on Toney and not a simple counter attack. I think that we may pin them back and break them down, but if they do get a period of possession then stopping Toney and scoring on the counter becomes a good route for us.

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  2. Potential banana skin game after the euphoria of Fulham and the Anniversary. However an early goal and Wilson playing well and we could stuff them.

    3-0 is my prediction.

    After all the fuss and insults well done Olly and pals getting the site sorted.

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  3. Olly – you wax lyrical well mate, but let’s not forget that Steve Bruce was still in charge & we lost that game – and the next few after it as well.

    I agree that the feel around the changed though and there was a real sense of hope. I only point out the negatives of that day because, of course things didn’t change overnight & to suggest it did (not saying Olly has but I’ve seen things on the local news in particular that feel like they are suggesting that) takes a lot of credit away from Howe.

    The atmosphere was unreal in the ground though & to see the flags and banners was incredible. The ‘everything they tried so hard to kill, we will rebuild’ banner defo got me.
    Lyrics from Jimmy Nails Big River and in the same song he mentions the Neptune Yard – a place my Grandad worked many years ago & a fella who loved NUFC.

    The new owners have done well so far but are only really getting started. It’s Eddie Howe that takes the bulk of the plaudits over the last year imo.

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  4. Eddie has some selection headaches for today in a good way.

    Weirdly I have a slight concern if he puts ASM in. We have been doing so well while he’s been injured – will he come back and try TOO hard to show he’s still our main man.

    It’s great to have him back & hopefully Isak and the rest will be available so we can have a look at what our strongest squad looks like.

    Brentford are a decent side but I see us winning this one – 2-1 the toon.

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  8. Icedog: I find it extraordinary that Wor Flags have produced a (deserved) banner with “Eddie Howe’s Black and White Army”. I cannot recall a single time that the Gallowgate or away fans sang “Steve Bruce’s B&W Army”. They/we knew he was a fraud and an Ashley lap dog.

    If he gets the sack at WBA, that will be 4 in a row, and yet people still employ this fool and talksport will not have a bad word said about him. It says a lot about how stupid these ex-player pundits are.

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  9. I watched vids of the crowd last week on Magpie TV and Adam Pearson’s channel. It was fcn amazing. Singing from start to finish. NUFC fans have to be the best in the world after what we have endured with the Fat Man.

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  10. Not been on as been really busy and Lewis seizures have been awful, not really sure what’s causing it either.
    Was hoping Joelinton would be recovered. Ah well .
    HWTL

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  11. They had Alex Bruce on the BBC last week commenting on the PL. WHY!!! Only his dad will employ him, first as a player and now as a coach. What has he ever done?

    I dont really get the ex-players as pundits. Yeah, they played the game and should have some insight. But Alex Bruce and Paul Merson’s Giant Balloon Heed?! And dont get me started on Michael “boring” Owen or Phil Thompson. Roy Keane is an @rse.

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  12. We should have too much for Brentford today, right?

    Sorry to hear that your lad is having problems Kimtoon. I dated a girl with epilepsy for 3 years and it is a very difficult thing to watch. Even after 100 or more seizures I was still worried about her. And people’s reactions were even worse. They really didnt know what to do and had seen things on TV about tongue swallowing and jamming spoons into the seizure sufferer’s mouth. Which, as you know, is the last thing you should do.

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  13. Quick story for you Kimtoon. I lived in a house with fellow students in college. I wasnt even dating this girl with epilepsy at the time but another girl in the house called her “Epi”. It took all of my moral fortitude not to deck her. I did tell her she better not say that in front of me ever again though.

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  14. It will be a tough game today. Brentford are a decent side under Franck. Toney will want to prove something too. Hoping for a home win though.

    I still comment but this week I’ve had family staying so been a bit absent from everything online. 😬

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  17. Eric Sykes: Quick story for you Kimtoon. I lived in a house with fellow students in college. I wasnt even dating this girl with epilepsy at the time but another girl in the house called her “Epi”. It took all of my moral fortitude not to deck her. I did tell her she better not say that in front of me ever again though.

    Well done you Eric

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  23. getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnBrunoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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  28. Fantastic first half. We were a tad lucky with the VAR I think, not sure Toney touched it although could argue he was interfering with play. Two excellent goals from us. Will be a tough second half.

    I really enjoy watch our team now. What a difference.

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  29. And Olly, it’s fantastic mate to see the posts as they should be on match day without any issues at all! 🙏🙏🙏.

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  30. I’m watching on my iPad so cannot comment during the match but will do at half time and full time.

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  46. Good day at the office lads.
    Up the league we go.

    Bruno MOTM with Miggy getting an honorable mention.

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  47. 5-1 ***, I didn’t see that coming. What a game. Great to watch them play like this and pushing to the end too. Fantastic. It’s like having the entertainers back! Bruno! What a player.

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  51. We are getting the results we deserve now. Robbed against Palace and 9 mins of stoppage time against Liverpool.

    We have played well in every single game and I have watched all of them. Well done Eddie and the Lads.

    I love, absolutely love, how happy Mandy, Meerdad and Jamie are in the stands. They go to every game and are happy. Remember Charnley. He just sat there like a miserable rock.

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  52. To be fair, Penfold didn’t have much to be cheerful about. Neither did the fans! 😂😂

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  53. Gilly Toon: . They blanked out O M G.

    I wonder why. Because you mentioned G0D? I think it blanked out C0ckerel once when I was taling about Spurs 🙂 I wonder if I can say C0cker Spaniel?

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  54. Gilly: I think it is an American thing because this site wont let you say d@mn either. They say darn here instead. I have no idea why d@mn is considered so bad.

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  61. Anybody who hasnt seen it has to watch “MINUS 17” on YouTube. It is the story of how Eddie kept Bournemouth in the football league with the bailiffs at the door and having been deducted 17 points. It was a miracle. He then took them from the 4th division to the PL as well. There is a Keegan or Bobby Robson quality about this man! I absolutely love him.

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  62. I sort of wear my heart on my sleeve about Managers. When I dont like them, I say I dont like them. When I like them, I say I like them. Only difference was Ugly John Carver because I thought he was not qualified and was handed a very difficult job.

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  63. I am extremely happy about how we are playing. VAR stole 2 points from us against Palace and the Ref took 1 away against Liverpool. And that wasnt a penalty today. He wasnt even looking at the ball !!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

    I have always been an advocate of if you look at goal difference, it tells you as much as the points tally does. We are pretty good now and the only way is up.

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  65. A few other dodgy decisions went against too Eric, earlier in the season. Could easily have had more points.

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  66. Gilly: I look at The Chronic individual scores from Wor Lee. I am really happy about how we are and take the opposite view to most who give the lads marks out of 10. I start with 10 and see if there are any points to deduct. I would give them all 10 today except Bruno who gets an 11. I thought Longstaff was brilliant. Miggy worked his socks off again. Callum was unlucky.

    Just a fantastic team performance. I almost predicted 5-1 but I didnt want to get ahead of myself 🙂

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  67. Eddie’s management was also brilliant. Saving Bruno for next week. We will need Miggy as well. Getting Big Joe on to see how his fitness is. I couldnt be happier with the job Eddie and his coaches are doing. Even Graeme Jones who seems to have the respect of the players 🙂

    I thought Cabbage might have affected Jones, but he seems to have recovered.

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