This feels like deja vu, as we head into a weekend hoping Newcastle United can finally click away from home in the Premier League after a big midweek win.
We’ve won five in a row at St James’ Park, we’re up to sixth in the Champions League after brushing Athletic Bilbao aside in midweek and we’re into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, but our league form, especially on the road, is threatening to spoil our season.
Wednesday’s win over Bilbao was a solid response to that horror show at West Ham, but the big test comes this weekend as we travel to Brentford in search of our first away win (in the league) since April.
Stuck down in 13th and five points behind ‘big six’ rivals Chelsea, Spurs and Man Utd, we must start turning the corner soon, with the players under pressure to respond and Eddie Howe in search of solutions to stop what has developed into a mini-crisis away from home comforts.
Speaking in Friday’s press conference about our away woes, Howe said: _“I think everyone shares that frustration. We know what we are capable of, and West Ham was a long way short of that._
_“We needed to make sure we did respond on Wednesday. It was a strong, disciplined performance but the only way to answer our critics about our performances away from home is to deliver._
_“I think Brentford, I know we have had some good results there, is always a tough place to go. It is going to be a tough examination of our ability to defend but I see it as a great opportunity to show we can deliver away from home. We know our away form hasn’t been good enough.”_
Team news
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Anthony Gordon (hip) is a doubt after coming off early in midweek, and Will Osula (ankle) has been ruled out alongside Yoane Wissa (knee) and Tino Livramento (knee).
Lewis Hall is back in contention after an impressive cameo on Wednesday night, although Howe’s pre-match cast doubt over his readiness to start just yet.
Brentford have a pretty clean bill of health, giving Keith Andrews a fully fit squad to pick from this weekend.
Predicted XI
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**(4-3-3)**: _Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes._
At the back, I can’t see Howe making any changes. Yes, we will soon have Hall in at left-back once he’s ready to start, but the boss has hinted that the 21-year-old won’t be rushed back into his 11 after minimal training time, while Burn’s height could be key on Sunday to defend set pieces.
In midfield, the big dilemma for me is Joelinton vs Jacob Ramsey. The latter offers that bit of added spark, pace on the break and attacking threat, but big Joe played well against Bilbao and his physicality may be something Howe wants against a Brentford side who will throw balls into our box at any opportunity.
In attack, Gordon’s hip is holding him back and I can’t see him starting, meaning Barnes looks highly likely to switch back to his preferred position down the left. On the right, it’s got to be Murphy again, with Elanga shot for confidence and struggling again when he came on in midweek.
Match prediction
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Believe it or not, Newcastle have beaten Brentford in six of our last seven visits, with the Bees’ only win a 4-2 victory at the GTech last season.
We were awful that day and everything we can’t be on Sunday if we want to beat a Brentford side who have been very tough to beat on home turf this season, where they’ve beaten Aston Villa twice, Liverpool, Man Utd and drawn with Chelsea.
Considering our away form, the limited patterns of play without two natural full-backs and my belief we will be tougher to beat on Sunday but still searching for fluidity in attack, I’ll go for a hard fought point.
**Prediction:** Brentford 1-1 Newcastle
Howay the lads!