After a four-game winless run, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe earned a crucial three points that has quietened the critics for now, beating Leicester City 4-0 over the weekend.The
Magpies were dominant throughout against a beleaguered Leicester, registering an xG of 3.8 from their 27 shots, 11 of which were on target.Newcastle remain in the bottom half
despite that win, though, with the 4-2 loss at Brentford contributing to their slide down the table.One thing going in Howe’s favour is their performance in the EFL Cup so far, where they have already beaten two in-form Premier League sides.
In round two, Howe’s men got the better of Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, before beating Chelsea’s cup team in the fourth round here at St James’ Park.A delayed encounter with AFC Wimbledon saw them given home
advantage after the lower-league opponents had their pitch ruined following adverse weather, but Howe was very critical of his players despite a 1-0 win, but nonetheless, it has helped them towards yet another quarter-
final.In Howe’s first full season in charge in 2022-23, he led Newcastle to the final, and only penalties saw them eliminated at this stage away to Chelsea last season.It will reach seven decades without a domestic trophy by the time
the final comes around for Newcastle, but Brentford are eyeing up their first-ever major honour, following a stratospheric rise under Thomas Frank over the last half-decade.
They have already made their best start to a Premier League season, despite losing 2-1 at Chelsea on Sunday night, sitting just five points short of the top four heading towards the midway point.
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A win here will also equal their best EFL Cup performance, which was a semi-final appearance in 2020-21, ending in defeat over two legs against Tottenham Hotspur.
It was at this hurdle where the Bees fell last season, going down to eventual finalists Chelsea, and Frank will hope that a similar fate does not beset them in their first meeting with a Premier League side in the competition this season.
Brentford got the better of Colchester United and Leyton Orient to reach round four, where Sheffield Wednesday awaited, and despite a dominant display on home soil, they needed penalties to see off the Championship outfit.
On the road, form must improve if they are to have any chance here, considering they are yet to win in the league away from the Gtech this season, with their solitary point coming at a struggling Everton.
