Newcastle – Brentford : Preview & Prediction
A 4-1 thrashing of Fulham last Saturday marked Newcastle United’s first league win since opening day and rekindled hopes that the club can flourish with their new-found riches. They currently sit one place below the Premier League (PL) top six, and the news that Callum Wilson extended his contract only adds to the feel-good factor, ahead of a duel that produced a thrilling 3-3 draw 11 months ago.
Speaking of the PL top six, that’s where Newcastle last finished unbeaten in their first five home games in the PL in the 2011/12 campaign. They are also looking to extend their PL unbeaten run against teams that finished in the bottom half of the table in the 2021/22 season, which dates back to February 2021 (G5, E7).
Brentford remain eager to prove that their performance last season was no fluke, but they now have just one win in six league games (E3, P2), following a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth. However, manager Thomas Frank was positive, saying that keeping a clean sheet away from home for the first time in the PL in over a year was a “great thing” as they limited their opponents to just one shot on goal.
However, Frank would have to go back to the start of the 2021/22 campaign to find his team’s only string of consecutive unbeaten PL clean sheets, although only a league away loss this season could offer any hope (E3, P1). However, they will have to overcome a terrible record against Newcastle in the modern era, having failed to win a league match against the “Geordies” since the 1947/48 season (E1, P5 since then).
Players to watch: Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron scored a brace against Fulham, and after he was unable to complete a hat-trick, he is still looking to become only the second Paraguayan to get one in the PL, after Roque Santa Cruz (December 2007). But Yoane Wissa could spoil his day, with Brentford’s two away wins after conceding the first goal of the calendar year having him as one of the scorers after 60 minutes.
Key stat: Four of Newcastle’s last five home wins in the PL have gone into halftime with the score level.
Newcastle – Brentford : Betting Tips
Newcastle – Win Odds: 2.25
