
Newcastle will be looking to get out of their current rut when they face Brentford at St. James' Park on Saturday evening. Having lost three of their last five, Eddie Howe has found this season rather frustrating. The Bees, however, bounced back from their defeat against Forest with a strong 1-0 win at Villa Park.
Our Premier League expert Nathan Joyes has glanced over the betting odds and provided his thoughts on the match below.
A frustrating season sees Newcastle down in 11th place after 24 rounds - currently seven points behind Chelsea who are sat in 5th. If Newcastle are to return to the Champions League, Eddie Howe knows his side will need to start a good run of form - sooner rather than later.
At home, Newcastle produce their best work. But after 12 matches, they have only picked up 23 points at St. James' Park - the 9th best in the Premier League. This isn't good enough if they want to guarantee a Champions League spot next term.
And although they held PSG to a 1-1 draw in their own back yard less than two weeks ago, defeats against Liverpool and Aston Villa have followed. Now winless in four across all competitions, Howe needs to rally the troops before it's too late - and Saturday marks a month since their last Premier League victory.
Brentford are a side that don't stay down for too long. And after suffering back-to-back defeats against Chelsea an Forest, the Bees stung Aston Villa in front of their own fans - making it three wins from their last five matches.
Occupying 7th, Keith Andrews side will be eyeing up a European spot - which was almost unthinkable back in August after losing so many key players.
But smart moves in the market have allowed Brentford to be a threat - mainly at home, although their away form has started to rapidly improve in recent weeks.
With four wins from their last five across all competitions, including three clean sheets, the Bees are looking dangerous and they'll be eyeing up all three points at St. James' Park this weekend.
A fixture that so often produces goals rarely sees a draw. All five of their last most recent clashes have produced over 2.5 goals, with four of those safely seeing over 3.5 land. And while Brentford have won their last two clashes against Newcastle on home soil, they've left their last two matches at St. James' Park with zero ponts.
With Newcastle stumbling and Brentford continuing to defy the odds, the goals could once again flow in this fixture that so often produces. However, the visitors have never won at this venue - but is that about to change?
Nathan Joyes had analysed the Premier League odds for this match and puts his best bet forward.
Newcastle (11/10 with 247Bet) are a shade odds-against to carry on their strong record against Brentford (5/2 with HighBet) having beaten them four times in a row.
And while they will be a popular bet, it's really difficult to side against Brentford this season. Since losing against Man City in December, only Chelsea have beaten them when they've travelled.
Wins against Wolves, Everton and Aston Villa have helped lift Brentford to 7th - and Europe is a real possibility at this stage of the season.
But it's hard to ignore the sheer amount of goals this fixture so often produces. Brentford won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in November, adding to the goal fest these two sides like to put on each season it seems.
Only one of their last eight has produced under 2.5 goals and with confidence low in one camp, Brentford may believe they won't have a better chance to win their first ever match at St. James' Park.
But Newcastle produce their best results at home, and so both teams to score and over 2.5 goals looks a safe bet once more between these two sides.
TIP: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals at 20/21 with BetMGM.
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