Brentford vs Newcastle United Match Preview 26.02.2022

In this weekends instalment of Newcastle United’s Premier League campaign, Eddie Howes side travel to Brentford who are only two points ahead of the Magpies as both sides continue to fight for their place in the topflight next season.

Thanks to their recent run of impressive results, Newcastle have climbed to 17th place whilst their hosts for this weekends fixture sit in 14th but only four points above the bottom three placed teams. The Magpies come into this fixture on the back of a hard fought 1-1 draw away to West Ham which kept their little unbeaten spell going whilst The Bees suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal last weekend.

Thomas Frank’s side have not won in the league since the start of January and have only picked up one point in their last seven matches which came against Crystal Palace on the 12th of February. Out of their 26 topflight fixtures played so far this season, The Bees have won six, drawn six and lost 14 which has collected them 24 points. 18th place Burnley have got three games in hand over Brentford which will be a concern to them. Their home form hasn’t been too great either, falling to defeats on seven occasions.

The last time Brentford beat Newcastle United in a league fixture was in January 1948, their reverse fixture this season ended in a 3-3 draw, that fixture saw Brentford striker Ivan Toney scored against his former club. The last players to score home and away against the Magpies in a Premier League season, having previously played for them in the competition, were Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye and Craig Bellamy in 2008/09.

The next set of fixtures will come thick and fast for the Magpies as they have to fit in the two games that were cancelled earlier in the season, Brighton are their next opponents after this weekend’s fixture followed by Southampton and Chelsea in quick succession, while they will end the month with games against Everton and Crystal Palace.

Brentford Team News: Ivan Toney is expected to be available for selection, Mathias Jensen, Mathias Jorgensen, Vitaly Janelt & Shandon Baptiste could also be named in the squad. Christian Eriksen has been building up his match fitness in behind-closed-doors fixtures so there is a potential place in the team for him. Tarique Fosu and Julian Jeanvier are still unavailable. Bryan Mbuemo is a certain starter for Thomas Frank.

Newcastle United Team News: Eddie Howe will still be without Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier and Matt Ritchie who remain on the injury list. Whether or not Allan Saint-Maximin will be included in the matchday squad will be a late call by the backroom staff as his recovery continues from a calf issue that he picked up against the win over Aston Villa. Bruno Guimaraes is still waiting to make his full debut for the magpies, the form of Joelinton, Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock in the centre of the pitch has kept him waiting. Ryan Frasier is to be selected in the squad after he came off during the game at West Ham last weekend. Jamaal Lascelles could remain on the bench following the impressive pairing of Dan Burn & Fabian Schar at the heart of the defence.

Sutty’s Match Prediction: Newcastle’s recent form will make them favourites for this fixture against a Brentford side that is going through a spell of disappointing performances. I am going for a Newcastle victory in this game with the score line being Brentford 1 Newcastle United 3.

@jsuttonwrites - 25.02.2022