2020/21 REPORT

League Position: 12th

Top League Goalscorer: Callum Wilson (12)

Stadium: St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4ST

Capacity: 52,300

Newcastle's last term was bookended by good spells, either side of a rough spell near Christmas. Their form took them to as high as fourth but also dropped them as low as 17th. In fact, they jumped four places in the last week by beating strugglers Fulham and Sheffield United.

Their Emirates FA Cup campaign lasted just a single game, eliminated in the Third Round by Arsenal. It was goalless after 90 minutes but The Gunners scored twice in Extra Time through Smith Rowe and Aubameyang.

They went to the Quarter-Finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Blackburn, Morecambe and Newport County. They then lost 1-0 to Brentford in West London, Josh Dasilva scoring the only goal after 66 minutes.

THE MANAGER

Steve Bruce was a centre-back in his playing days, most famously at Manchester United between 1987-1996. His career started at Gillingham, then took him to Norwich before the move to Old Trafford. He was promoted with The Canaries and won the 1985 League Cup in Norfolk. United brought him three league titles, three FA Cup trophies and another League Cup triumph.

Short spells with Birmingham City and Sheffield United were followed by his retirement in 1999. Despite youth appearances, he was never capped at senior level by England.

He began his managerial career with Sheffield United, spending smaller spells with Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace. He then joined Birmingham in 2001, leading them to Premier League promotion twice in six seasons.

He resigned in 2007, heading back to Wigan. Not long after, he was brought in by Sunderland. He next tasted success with Hull City as he took them to top-flight promotion twice, as well as the 2014 FA Cup Final. He left in 2016, taking over at Aston Villa. He moved to Sheffield Wednesday in February 2019 but only spent four months in the job before a move to Newcastle.

LAST MEETING

As mentioned above, our last match with Newcastle came last year in a Carabao Cup Quarter-Final. Brentford made history by making the Semi-Finals for the first time after a 1-0 win over The Magpies in West London. Josh Dasilva netted the winner in the second half, getting on the end of a cross by Segi Canós to fire past Karl Darlow in front of the West Stand.

Bees: Daniels; Fosu, Pinnock, Sørensen, Thompson; Dasilva (Jensen 81), Janelt (Nørgaard 60), Marcondes; Canós (Toney 69), Forss, Ghoddos

Newcastle: Darlow; Yedlin, Hayden, Clark, Lewis (Carroll 80); Shelvey, S. Longstaff; Murphy, Almirón (Gayle 65), Fraser (Joelinton 65); Wilson