Newcastle United Eyes Champions League Spot Against Resilient Brentford

NEWCASTLE, England – Newcastle United will host Brentford at St James' Park on Wednesday, April 2, as they aim to solidify their position in the race for a Champions League spot next season. The Magpies currently sit in sixth place with 47 points, just two points behind Chelsea, who hold the fourth spot, and one point below Manchester City in fifth. Meanwhile, Brentford is positioned at 11th with 41 points, coming off a recent 2-1 victory against Bournemouth.

This match marks Newcastle’s first game following their triumph in the EFL Cup, where they defeated Liverpool 2-1, claiming their first trophy in 70 years. Prior to the cup win, Newcastle secured a 1-0 victory over West Ham but have struggled defensively, recording just one clean sheet in their last seven league matches.

Brentford, on a positive note, has shown strong form recently, winning three of their last five games and maintaining an impressive streak of five straight away victories, scoring 14 goals while conceding just twice. Head coach Thomas Frank will look to leverage this momentum against the revitalized Magpies.

When considering their prior encounters in the current season, Newcastle and Brentford faced each other twice. Brentford emerged victorious with a 4-2 league win on December 7, while Newcastle avenged that loss with a 3-1 triumph in the EFL Cup quarterfinals on December 18.

In terms of injuries, Newcastle is facing challenges with key players Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, and Jamaal Lascelles unavailable. Eddie Howe might field the same back four that competed against Liverpool, consisting of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento, and Fabian Schar. Additionally, Anthony Gordon’s hip injury is likely to keep him off the pitch, prompting Alexander Isak to be supported by Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy.

Brentford, too, will miss several key players, including Igor Thiago, Gustavo Gomes, Joshua Dasilva, and Fabio Carvalho. Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo are expected to lead the attack, backed up by Kevin Schade and Mikkel Damsgaard. Defensively, Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer, Keane Lewis-Potter, and Nathan Collins are anticipated to start, with Michael Kayode and Aaron Hickey ruled out.

Newcastle’s home form has been particularly impressive under Howe, with only Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal having garnered more league points at home since his appointment. With the pressure to maintain their position in the top six, Newcastle’s attacking prowess, led by Isak, who has scored 23 goals this season, will be crucial.

In a potential turning point for their season, Brentford seeks to break their long-standing hoodoo at St James’ Park, where they have not won since 1934. Conversely, Newcastle aims to build on their recent success and further their Champions League ambitions.

The match promises to be a captivating encounter, with both teams striving to make a statement as the season nears its conclusion.