Newcastle United is set to face Brentford in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, with the match taking place at St. James' Park on Wednesday evening. After overcoming Chelsea 1-0 to reach this stage, the Magpies are on the hunt for their first major trophy since 1969. Their recent dominance, showcased by a resounding 4-0 victory over Leicester City, has reinstated confidence within the squad, making them slight favorites against the Bees.
While Newcastle has struggled to find consistency, sitting 12th in the Premier League, Eddie Howe's squad is eager for redemption after suffering a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Brentford just ten days ago. Knowing the weight of the occasion, Howe expressed the team's desire to finally end the club's trophy drought.
“The willingness has been there from other [Newcastle] teams, but we want to be the one who gets over the line and to achieve something special,” said Howe. His focus is clear: the pursuit of silverware is non-negotiable, and recent performances hint at the talent available to secure this goal.
Brentford, managed by Thomas Frank, has shown resilience this season and boasts one of the top attacking records. Despite their recent 2-1 loss to Chelsea, the Bees remain confident, especially after their successful outing against Newcastle less than two weeks prior. Frank acknowledged the challenge: “We will face a team ready to come at us under the lights. They take no prisoners and will go after us – but we are ready.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45 PM GMT, with the match broadcast live on Sky Sports+ for UK viewers and Paramount+ for fans tuning in from the US. For those unable to attend the game live, highlights will be available shortly after the final whistle on the Sky Sports Football channel and the respective club social media platforms.
Historical encounters favor Newcastle slightly, with 13 victories to Brentford's 5 across their last 19 meetings. Nevertheless, the Bees’ capability to upset strong opposition serves as a pertinent reminder of their attacking prowess, spearheaded by Bryan Mbeumo, who aims to extend his scoring tally.
Interestingly, both squads face significant injury concerns. Newcastle will be without key players like Nick Pope and Callum Wilson, who's still nursing injuries, though Martin Dúbravka is anticipated to start following recent performances. Brentford, on the other hand, could welcome back midfielder Vitaly Janelt but remains without several key players including Aaron Hickey and Mathias Jensen.
Fans are hoping for fireworks and are excited about the potential of seeing Newcastle dominate, especially at home. “When you get to this part of the competition, we recognize that's our goal and what we're trying to do,” Howe stated, alluding to the magnitude of the match. The calling for the fans has never been louder, as the players seem inspired to deliver memorable performances for Newcastle faithful.
Betting odds have been released for fans interested in wagering on this tightly contested match. Newcastle's victory is currently pegged at 4/9, Brentford at 4/1, with the draw sitting at 12/5. This reflects the mixed form of both teams, with Newcastle aiming for continuity after their last convincing win.
The match is expected to be tightly contested, and pundits believe the result could hinge on whether Newcastle can suppress Brentford's attacking edge, particularly through Mbeumo, who will be key for the Bees. Some predict it may require penalties to decide the outcome, with Newcastle edging the match 2-1 according to betting analysts.
With such stakes and both teams showing varying degrees of determination, Wednesday’s quarter-final clash undoubtedly promises to be one for the ages. Fans are encouraged to prepare for what is sure to be electrifying football under the St. James’ Park floodlights, and the prospect of moving closer to silverware looms large for both clubs.
