Our live stream ahead of Tuesdays EFL Cup quarter-final match, Brentford vs Newcastle is now up and running, kicking off at 17.30 GMT
You can keep an eye on the commentary as it happens below, but first, we take a preview into the fixture, lineups, predictions and much more…
Brentford will be looking to make club history tonight as they’re looking to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history.
Thomas Franks team warmed up for their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with an emphatic 3-1 win over Sky Bet Championship promotion rivals Reading.
The Bees are coming into the game unbeaten in their last 13 matches in the Championship. Although seven of those games have been draws, recording almost two points per game over a two-month period has put the Bees close to the automatic places in the Championship table.
Brentford are looking to defeat Premier League opposition for a fourth time this season after already progressing past Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham.
Newcastle come into the game having draw 1-1 with Fulham, who spent the last half hour with 10 men. The Magpies benefitted from a controversial penalty decision to earn a share of the spoils, one which has kept them in contention for the mid-table positions.
Having failed to lift any major silverware since 1955, winning this season’s EFL Cup would represent one of the biggest achievements in Newcastle United’s history.
Despite ambitions to go further in this competition, Steve Bruce would have preferred to have one fewer fixture on the club’s schedule after the recent coronavirus outbreak.
Bruce has spoken about the lingering effects that it has had on some players, and the game in West London will take second priority behind ensuring that none of his squad are pushed too hard ahead of the Christmas period.
The two clubs last met in a Championship tie in 2017, with Newcastle winning 2-1 away at Griffin Park…
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Steve Bruce
“Once you get to a quarter-final, there’s a semi-final at stake.
“We haven’t been there for years and I hope we’re looking forward to it, certainly I am.
“The games are coming thick and fast but what an opportunity we’ve got.
“We’ve got a wonderful opportunity to get to the semi-final of a cup, so let’s look forward to it, enjoy the challenge of it and see where we can go.”
“It’s been far too long, as has been well documented, but we’ve got ourselves a chance.
“As always, the big teams are still there, I think there’s only Wigan off the top of my head who’ve won a cup [in recent years] apart from the top six if you like, so we know how difficult it is.
“But let’s have a crack, let’s enjoy it and see where we get to.”
On player fitness and availability:
“At the moment, I think I have to make changes.
“Isaac [Hayden] has gone in at centre back and I can’t see that situation improving [by Tuesday], so there’s a problem for us straight away.
“Whatever we put out, we’re certainly capable of performing better than what we have done over the last couple [Leeds and Fulham] and we’ll have to perform better because Brentford are a good side.
“I’m disappointed after the platform we gave ourselves against Crystal Palace and West Brom, we’ve certainly had a difficult week, so let’s get on with it and see what we can do.
“As we speak today, the numbers [of players affected by the virus] are far too high, and big players for us.
“It’s difficult, of course, but we’ve got to try and manage it as best we can, be sensible and take the advice that the medical people can tell us, and see where we get to.”
Asked if Saint-Maximin would be available against Brentford:
“No.” (and didn’t /wouldn’t give a reason as to why)
Asked if Tuesday will be too early for Martin Dubravka to be involved:
“Yes.”
On Brentford:
“I think you have to pay a huge compliment to the way they’ve gone about their work over the last five years.
“They’ve got a new stadium, they keep selling players, they keep buying them on the cheap and selling them for tens of millions, and last year they nearly got up again and they’re going well again this year.
“You have to say congratulations to them, as a small club they’ve done remarkably well and they’ve got some very good players.
“They’ve got a great model, which a lot of us will be envious of, because they keep turning over really, really good players.”
On Ivan Toney:
“He’s done very well.
“It looks like he’s playing with that burning desire to prove people wrong. You have to say well done to him. He will be a threat because he’s playing with a lot of confidence.
“He will want to prove people wrong [at Newcastle] who let him go.
“He had to go away, go into non-league I believe, then surfaced at Peterborough, and you have to say well done to the kid.”
Thomas Frank
On making history
You always want to be a part of history or to write a new chapter in this beautiful club’s history. When you have the chance just in front of you, it is so important to give everything you can to take that chance. I said it to the players after training today, and after the win on Saturday, that it is on us to do everything we can to write a new chapter. We will do our best to attack the opportunity.about:blankout.stream powered by ADITION
It is a very big opportunity for the staff members and players involved in the game tomorrow, and the fans watching. We want to do our best to do that. We are going to face a good Premier League side but we believe in our chance and will go for it. The first-half against Watford was the first time I’d really seen my team click. In the first 30 minutes against Reading that’s where we showed some of the bits, I really like the team to play.
On doing it for the fans
Like all other Londoners, Bees fans will be affected by these Tier 4 restrictions. It is about giving people a small light in the dark hopefully. It will definitely be my final motivation speech tomorrow to go out there, make the fans proud, and play for them.
On our run so far
If we hit a high level on the day we are very difficult to beat and we have a good chance. Now we have done it three times; why shouldn’t we be able to do it the fourth time. That is said with massive respect to Newcastle who we know will do everything they can to win a big trophy. We are ready. We are confident but very humble because we know we have a tough task.
On the Magpies
We are in a good place. We have done well in the Carabao Cup and we believe that we can do something in the game but we still have to say they are favourites. I have a lot of respect for Newcastle United, they are a high quality squad with some really good players. They have some clear strengths in the way they break, and the pace they have going forward. They defend well and are difficult to break down.
On Ivan Toney
Ivan has an inner drive and determination to reach the highest possible level. There’s always a situation in all of our careers that inspires us, or irritates us, enough to ensure we work hard every single day to try to prove some people wrong. I know that Ivan has big ambitions and, of course, he would like to prove that he could play in the Premier League. His hunger for goals is immense and he is a really good player.
On the squad latest
We are all Covid clear, we just got the results back. Injury-wise Pontus Jansson will still be out but he will be available for Cardiff City. The rest will be assessed to see if some of them can make it. One thing for sure is that Christian Norgaard will be involved in the squad. I am pretty sure we will see him on the pitch; I just need to see if he is starting or coming off the bench.
On Emiliano Marcondes’ future
I highly rate Emiliano Marcondes; I think he is a very good player for us. He does everything he can for the team but still has the ability to create chances and goals. I hope he signs for us.
FORM:
Brentford EFL Cup form: DWDW
Brentford form (all competitions): WDDWDW
Newcastle United EFL Cup form: WWD
Newcastle United form (all competitions): LLWWLD
LINEUPS:
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Daniels; Fosu-Henry, Goode, Pinnock, Henry; Marcondes, Norgaard, Jensen; Ghoddos, Forss, Canos
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Gillespie; Yedlin, Fernandez, Clark, Ritchie; Murphy, Shelvey, Longstaff, Fraser; Carroll, Gayle
SPORTSMOLE PREDICTION:
Brentford 2-1 Newcastle United
After the recent coronavirus outbreak at the club, another fixture on the schedule is not ideal for the Magpies. With that in mind, we feel that Brentford could take the scalp of another Premier League club courtesy of a late goal at their home ground.
Time to take a look at our Brentford vs Newcastle live match stream as it happens…
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