Eddie Howe’s team has maintained a perfect record in their three Premier League visits to the Gtech Community Stadium.
However, this season, the Bees remain unbeaten at home, boasting the league’s best home form with six wins and a draw from seven games. Currently, Thomas Frank’s side sits 11th in the table, just ahead of Newcastle on goal difference.
Tim Robinson will referee the match, his first involving Brentford and Newcastle this season. Last season, Robinson officiated four high-scoring Newcastle fixtures, including their 4-0 win over Crystal Palace and their 3-0 defeat to Everton.
A relatively new addition to the Premier League refereeing roster, Robinson made his top-flight debut in 2019 during Newcastle’s 1-0 loss to Burnley.
This season, while mostly avoiding controversy, he faced criticism from Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna for controversial decisions in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City, including denying a penalty and issuing a second yellow card.
“I think it was the defining moment in the match, it’s clear we were the better team when it was 11 v 11, and we should go 2-0 up,” said McKenna. “I think it’s a clear penalty and should have been given straight away. He steams into (Chaplin’s) stomach. I don’t think it’s a debatable one.
“And to compound that with a bouncing ball, and both players have the right to go for the challenge, and Kalvin’s tried to pull out…
“In the context of the game to compound it by giving a second yellow is unacceptable, in my opinion, for the referee to put himself into the centre of the match like that.”
