Brentford v Newcastle United

A Defining Day Awaits at the Gtech Community Stadium

We've had must win games and no excuse games already this season...

But for me, this is a defining game.

Another poor performance, another defeat, another week entrenched in the bottom half of the table with Man City up next, and the concern from fans will turn towards full scale gloom.

If ever there was a test of character in a squad and team today's game at Brentford is that test. The difference between passing and failing the test is immense.

With all teams but Arsenal losing more than one game at this early stage of the season - and even the big 6 losing up to three and four - a win today would put us only 5pts behind current second placed Chelsea and only 4pts behind Sunderland.

This really is the season where, up to now, any team but Wolves and Forest are capable of beating any other team witnessed by the fact that, other than those two, every other team has already won at least three matches - another highly unusual stat at this stage of the season.

What that means is that, despite our poor start, a top 6 place is still a reality and even a top 4 place not yet a pipe dream.

That's why today's game is a defining one that could change our mood and the confidence of the team radically in either direction.

Win today and beat Man City - which we are capable of doing at SJP - and we will be right back on track to not only rescue this season but make it another cracker.

Already right on track for the next stage of the CL and in the QF of the EFL Cup, two wins from our next two games would see the doubts evaporate into the ether - at least until we lose again :).

So, my usual fiver is going on a hard fought 2-1 win but I couldn't give a flying if we win 1-0 in the last minute from a wicked deflection off a Brentford backside.

This is a game where the performance is absolutely secondary to the result.

And that result has to be a win for the Toon.

What do you think and what is your prediction?

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