It’s quarter-final day! It’s a record-breaking day for the Magpies, reaching the quarter-finals three years in a row for the first time in our history – but can we break our history of heartache at this stage?
Tonight, St. James' Park will host a high-stakes quarter-final in the League Cup, as Newcastle takes on Brentford under the lights.
It's familiar territory for our current squad and a record-breaking moment for Newcastle - reaching the quarter-finals three years in a row for the first time in our history.
However, our overall record at this stage of the competition hasn't been great, with only two successful progressions from 11 attempts (both of which ended in runner-up heartbreak).
It's also the second time in five seasons we've faced Brentford at this stage, with a 1-0 loss knocking us out of the competition last time out.
But history is on our side at home, where we've won seven of our last eight matches against them.
Recent matches against Brentford have been a bit of a rollercoaster. In our last encounter only a couple of weeks ago, they beat us 4-2, but we got the better of them by the same score line in the match before that.
Interestingly, there hasn't been a draw in the last six meetings between the sides. If that does happen tonight, though, there'll be no extra time or replay - it's straight to penalties.
Brentford has a strong penalty record in this competition, winning 7 of their 10 shootouts, compared to our less-than-impressive 4 out of 9.
Squad-wise, Sean Longstaff is suspended, opening the door for a possible return for Lewis Miley, who could feature after limited appearances so far this season.
Sven Botman is still out, having featured for the Under-21s on Monday - his senior return still isn't expected until January.
On the league table, Newcastle and Brentford are inseparable - level on points, goal difference, and only separated by goals scored.
These stats make penalties seem like a reasonably likely outcome, but with momentum and vengeance on our side, the Magpies will be pushing for a decisive win tonight.
If Newcastle progresses, the semi-finals will be played over two legs, with the draw taking place after Spurs face Manchester United on Thursday.
The stat sheet 👇
- 🏆 Historic Quarter-Final: For the first time in club history, Newcastle has reached the League Cup quarter-finals three years in a row.
- 🏠 Strong Home Record: Newcastle has won 7 of the last 8 home matches against Brentford, offering hope for a home advantage tonight.
- 🔄 Recent Rollercoaster: Newcastle and Brentford have traded 4-2 victories in their last two meetings, highlighting the unpredictability of their encounters.
