Newport County vs Brentford Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Brentford will kick off their EFL Cup campaign when they travel to Newport County on Tuesday night

Premier League side Brentford will get their EFL Cup campaign underway when they travel to Rodney Parade to take on fourth-division side Newport County on Tuesday night.

Both teams are separated by 64 spots in the English football pyramid heading into the game, making it a true David vs. Goliath clash. In many ways, it would appear to be a clash that heavily favours Brentford.

Newport have enjoyed a good start to the 2023-24 season and already upset third-division side Charlton Athletic in the first round to make it this far. Surely a win against Brentford will be one for the history books as far as The Exiles are concerned.

A solid cup win will certainly aid Newport in building up confidence as they aim to secure promotion to League One. With home support to boot, one can expect Brian Coughlan’s men to dig in and make a game of the opportunity.

Brentford, meanwhile, are flying high after establishing themselves as Premier League regulars. Thomas Frank should now be plotting the next step in his side’s evolution and a good cup run would be a welcome boost. As far as trophies are concerned, the League Cup represents The Bees’ best chance of silverware this season.

The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might implement.

Team News & Tactics

Newport County

Any chance Newport have of springing a surprise on the night depends on their ability to field a full-strength side. With promotion the priority, Coughlan will be expected to rotate his squad without having to settle for wholesale changes.

A direct and aggressive style of football is what one can expect from Newport and little will change on the night. Coughlan has often preferred a 3-5-2 formation but is not averse to switching to a back four when needed. 

Newport packed the midfield against Charlton in the previous round and given their inability to play possession football, look set to repeat the trick against Brentford. A 4-5-1 is likely to be their starting formation for the game.

Nick Townsend should start in goal behind the back four of Adam Lewis, Ryan Delaney, James Clarke and Shane McLoughlin. Scot Bennett should hold the fort in midfield with the quartet of Henry Charsley, James Waite,  Bryn Morris and Will Evans playing further upfield.

Seb Palmer-Houlden should lead the line and should be joined up front by Evans on the counter. How well the Newport ace can play off the last man could determine their chances of securing an upset.

Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Townsend; Lewis, Delaney, Clarke, McLoughlin; Bennet, Morris, Evans, Waite, Charsley; Palmer-Houlden

Brentford

The Bees have picked up five points from their first three Premier League games, including a stellar 3-0 win over Fulham. Frank’s men are dangerous in possession and are expected to keep much of the ball in the game.

Player to player, the visitors are way stronger than their less illustrious hosts and this could see them make a few changes to their playing XI. While it would be too much for them to swap out the entire XI, there should be a few unfamiliar faces in the matchday squad.

Shandon Baptiste is ruled out with a shoulder injury while Josh Dasilva is still nursing a thigh concern. Ben Mee is also a doubt for the game, having missed the club’s three league clashes so far.

A 4-3-3 formation appears to be the solution for the night with reserve goalkeeper Ellery Balcome in goal. He will be protected by the back four of Rico Henry, Ethan Pinnock, Nathan Collins and Aaron Hickey.

The Exiles don’t stress too much on possession and are adept at launching the ball upfront on the first opportunity. How well Brentford win the second balls on the night could set the pace of the game. 

Vitaly Janelt should start in midfield with Christian Norgaard and Frank Onyeka in tow. Youngster Keane Lewis-Potter and Michael Olakigbe should get an opportunity upfront with Yoane Wissa leading the line.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Balcombe; Henry, Pinnock, Collins, Hickey; Onyeka, Norgaard, Janelt; Lewis-Potter, Wissa, Olakigbe

Key Stats

• Newport County have attempted the fewest dribbles (47) in the English fourth division this term and completed only 13, the fewest in the division.
• Despite averaging just over 40 per cent possession this season, Newport have managed to record the seventh most shots (70) in League Two with the fourth most on target (26).
• This is the first meeting between both teams since 1987 when they were both in the third division of English football.
• Both teams enjoyed their best run in the League Cup in 2020-21. Newport made it to the fourth round while Brentford made it to the semifinal stage.

Player to Watch

Yoane Wissa
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The 26-year-old should lead the Brentford attack on the day and will be Newport’s biggest threat in defence. Strong in the air and capable of taking shots from afar, Wissa is a dynamic striker who knows how to make use of his physicality.

Newport will not have faced a player of the Frenchman’s calibre in recent times and cannot afford to give him a sniff. The Brentford ace is the likeliest of the names on the list to find the net for the visitors on the night.

Prediction

Newport County 1-3 Brentford

Newport will prove to be a dogged opponent whose in-your-face style of football could unsettle Brentford. However, Frank’s men have the experience and know-how to deal with such threats and should get more comfortable on the ball as the game wears on.

With possession likely to be dominated by the visitors, Brentford can afford to play their natural game. In the end, their quality should see them secure a comfortable win by two goals.