Brentford vs Newcastle Predictions

• Newcastle have won none of their five Premier League away games this season.
• Both teams have scored in seven of the last nine meetings.
• Six of the lat nine clashes between these two teams have produced at least four goals.

Magpies are failing to fire this season

Expectations were different at Newcastle and Brentford before a Premier League ball was kicked this season and while the Magpies have not really looked like a team destined to claim a Champions League spot again, the Bees have been defying some of their critics.

Big things are expected at St James’ Park these days but Eddie Howe’s team have won just three of their top-flight matches, with those successes coming against bottom-six dwellers Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Fulham, who have just four victories between them this term.

Their away form is a particular cause for concern as they have lost their last two games on the road against West Ham and Brighton while earning goalless draws at Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Leeds, so it is questionable whether they will have enough firepower to land three points from this trip to west London.

Bees have defied expectations

Brentford, meanwhile, are not looking the relegation candidates many had them down as being at the start of the campaign.

Thomas Frank’s departure to Tottenham and the loss of forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa were anticipated to be costly, but they are more than holding their own under Keith Andrews.

The Bees fell to a 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace last week, but they have beaten villa, Manchester United and Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium, so will have few fears about a visit from the Magpies.

The hosts look good value to claim another scalp and a 2-1 home win may be of interest to correct-score punting enthusiasts.

Thiago can make his mark again

While the loss of Mbeumo and Wissa was expected to be keenly felt, the fact their departure has not had terrible consequences has a lot to do with the impact of Igor Thiago.

The Brazilian scored twice in the 3-1 win over Manchester United, netted the first goal in a 2-0 success at West Ham where the Bees dominated and also netted a penalty in the 3-2 win over Liverpool, so take him to add to his six-league-goal tally.