A spot in the EFL Cup semi-finals will be on the line when Newcastle United and Brentford lock horns at St. James’ Park on Wednesday.
The 2024/25 EFL Cup resumes this week with the quarter-finals. The latest phase starts with three games on Wednesday, including Newcastle United vs Brentford at St. James’ Park, before Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur end the round with their blockbuster clash on Thursday.
Newcastle United reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals after being Nottingham Forest, AFC Wimbledon and Chelsea in the previous rounds. However, the Magpies have blown hot and cold in recent weeks, winning one of their last five games. The dreadful run of results has left Eddie Howe’s men in the 12th spot in the Premier League standings.
Things have been much better for Brentford, even though the Bees are level on points with Newcastle United in the Premier League. Thomas Frank’s men have lost only two of their last six games and reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals after getting past Colchester United, Leyton Orient, and Sheffield Wednesday in the previous rounds.
Newcastle United and Brentford have already clashed once this season, with the latter clinching a 4-2 win in the Premier League. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Newcastle United manager will be bereft of the services of five first-team players vs Brentford on Wednesday.
Nick Pope is the most notable absentee, with the first-choice goalkeeper recovering from a knee injury. The English international accompanies Sven Botman (knee), Emil Krafth (shoulder), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), and Callum Wilson (hamstring) on the sidelines. Joelinton picked up a milestone yellow card against Leicester City but will serve his suspension this weekend vs Ipswich Town.
Martin Dubravka will deputise for Pope between the sticks, with Newcastle United lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Brentford on Wednesday. The backline should feature Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Lloyd Kelly, and Lewis Hall.
As for the midfield unit, Joelinton should start alongside Sean Longstaff and Sandro Tonali, with Bruno Guimaraes an option on the bench. Alexander Isak will lead the line for Newcastle United against Brentford, with Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy completing the numbers in the final third. The latter will get a reward for his match-winning display vs Leicester City, with Anthony Gordon getting some rest.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Kelly, Hall; Longstaff, Tonali, Joelinton; Barnes, Isak, Murphy
Brentford
Like his counterpart in the Newcastle United dugout, Thomas Frank does not have any new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to St. James’ Park. The Brentford manager will be without five first-team players on Wednesday.
Mathias Jensen is the most notable absentee, although he should return next week. The Danish international (hamstring) accompanies Rico Henry (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh), Joshua Dasilva (knee), and Gustavo Nunes (lower back) on the sidelines.
Mark Flekken should start between the sticks, with Brentford lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Newcastle United on Wednesday. The backline will likely feature Mads Roerslev, Nathan Collins, Ben Mee, and Sepp van den Berg.
As for the midfield unit, Yehor Yarmolyuk should make a rare start, lining up alongside Vitaly Janelt in the double pivot. Fabio Carvalho will likely reprise the no. 10 role, with Keane Lewis-Potter and Bryan Mbeumo being the two wide attackers. Finally, Kevin Schade will spearhead the Brentford attack against Newcastle United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Mee, van den Berg; Yarmolyuk, Janelt; Mbeumo, Carvalho, Lewis-Potter; Schade
Key Stats
Newcastle United are undefeated in their last five home matches vs Brentford across all competitions.
Newcastle United have scored at least two goals in six of their last seven games vs Brentford in all competitions. A win for the Bees at St. James’ Park will be their first away at Newcastle United since 1934.
Newcastle United have struggled to keep clean sheets on the road this season but have not conceded in three of their last five home games.
Brentford’s only away victory in the 2024/25 season has come in the EFL Cup, beating Colchester United in the second round.
Only Cole Palmer (25) and Erling Haaland (26) have scored more goals than Alexander Isak (20) in the Premier League this year.
Player to Watch
Alexander Isak
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As iterated earlier, Alexander Isak has been one of the most prolific Premier League strikers this year. However, the Swedish international will have a personal agenda heading into the EFL Cup quarter-final vs Brentford, with the Newcastle United talisman finding the back of the net fewer times than Yoane Wissa (nine) and Bryan Mbeumo (10) in the top flight this term.
So, the Swede will have a point to prove and usurp his Brentford counterparts with a match-winning performance. Isak will be Newcastle United’s best bet to get something from the game, even though other players can step up and deliver the goods in the final third.
Prediction
Newcastle United 3-1 Brentford
Brentford’s only away win in the 2024/25 season might have come in the EFL Cup. However, the Bees have struggled on the road against Premier League opponents, considering they have the joint-worst away record in the top flight this term.
With Newcastle United having one of the most formidable home records this season, the Brentford players must play out of their skins to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals. That will not happen, even though the away side will give the hosts a run for their money. However, Brentford will fall short, with The Hard Tackle predicting a 3-1 win for Eddie Howe and his charges.