Brentford survive major cup scare at Newport

29 Aug 2023
Brentford goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe starred in the penalty shoot out win over Newport

Brentford avoided a major cup upset as they edged to a penalty shootout win over Newport County in the Carabao Cup.

Brentford - Figure 1
Photo BBC Sport

Premier League Brentford were dominant throughout and - having been frustrated by a well-drilled Newport side at Rodney Parade - took the lead on 87 minutes through substitute Mathias Jensen.

But 18-year-old Kiban Rai struck his first goal for the club deep into time added on to send the second-round fixture to a penalty shootout.

However, Brentford won 3-0 on spot-kicks to book their place in the third round.

Newport made five changes from their 3-1 comeback win over Sutton United as Jonny Maxted, Josh Seberry, Matty Bondswell, James Waite and Omar Bogle all started.

Thomas Frank made nine changes to his Brentford side following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Ellery Balcombe, Yegor Yarmolyuk and Michael Olakigbe were handed their first competitive starts while Ben Mee returned from injury to partner Zanka in defence.

The Bees dominated possession from the outset and created their first opening on 19 minutes as Harry Charsley cleared Lewis-Potter's header off the line.

Kristoffer Ajer and Kevin Schade both failed to worry goalkeeper Maxted with efforts from distance as the visitors asked more questions of their League Two opponents.

Graham Coughlan's side defended resolutely though and were inches away from taking the lead against the run of play as Bogle - on his first start of the season - crossed to Charsley whose header flew narrowly wide.

Brentford were rampant in the second half as Newport struggled to get out of their own territory, although goalkeeper Maxted was relatively untroubled.

After Olakigbe flashed an effort over, Bees boss Frank sent on Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo and Jensen.

Nathan Wood, Scot Bennett and Seb Palmer-Houlden were summoned by Coughlan, although the latter was replaced by Kiban Rai within minutes of entering the pitch after suffering a leg injury.

Maxted stooped low to his left to keep out Mbeumo's driven effort as Brentford pushed for the game's opener.

Newport continued to battle and saw Bennett curl wide 15 minutes from time as the contest appeared destined to go to a penalty shootout.

Jensen looked to have won it for the Londoners when he tapped into an empty net in the 87th minute.

But substitute Rai headed Adam Lewis' cross beyond Balcombe in the sixth minute of time added on to ensure spot-kicks were required to settle the contest.

Lewis, Wood and Bryn Morris all missed for the hosts as Mbeumo, Wissa and Lewis-Potter hit the net from 12 yards out to ensure Brentford avoided a huge upset in Wales.

Newport County manager Graham Coughlan:

"When you play the big boys you need those slices of luck. Had we had VAR we would have had the penalty.

"I'd like to bring a couple of players in (before the transfer window closes).

"We've seen what's happened tonight so we'll have to assess that and see where we are."

Line-ups
Newport

Formation 4-4-1-1

26Maxted15Seberry5J Clarke4Delaney3LewisBooked at 76mins11Waite24WildigSubstituted forBennettat 64'minutes8Morris33BondswellSubstituted forPayneat 83'minutesBooked at 90mins20CharsleyBooked at 6minsSubstituted forWoodat 64'minutes9BogleSubstituted forPalmer-Houldenat 64'minutesSubstituted forRaiat 67'minutesSubstitutes1Townsend2Payne6Drysdale17Bennett18Rai19McLoughlin22Wood30Palmer-Houlden
Brentford

Formation 4-3-3

40Balcombe30Roerslev13M Jorgensen16MeeSubstituted forHickeyat 77'minutes20Ajer15OnyekaSubstituted forJensenat 62'minutes27Janelt33YarmolyukSubstituted forBrierleyat 78'minutes23Lewis-Potter9SchadeSubstituted forMbeumoat 62'minutes37OlakigbeSubstituted forWissaat 62'minutesSubstitutes1Flekken2Hickey8Jensen11Wissa19Mbeumo22Collins36Kim38Brierley42Adedokun

Referee:Scott Oldham

Attendance:5,916

Match Stats
Live Text

Match ends, Newport County 1, Brentford 1(3).

Penalty Shootout ends, Newport County 1, Brentford 1(3).

Goal! Newport County 1, Brentford 1(3). Keane Lewis-Potter (Brentford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.

Penalty saved! Bryn Morris (Newport County) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.

Goal! Newport County 1, Brentford 1(2). Yoane Wissa (Brentford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

Penalty saved! Nathan Wood (Newport County) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.

Goal! Newport County 1, Brentford 1(1). Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.

Penalty missed! Still Newport County 1, Brentford 1. Adam Lewis (Newport County) hits the right post with a left footed shot.

Penalty Shootout begins Newport County 1, Brentford 1.

Second Half ends, Newport County 1, Brentford 1.

Goal! Newport County 1, Brentford 1. Kiban Rai (Newport County) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Adam Lewis with a cross.

Lewis Payne (Newport County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Keane Lewis-Potter (Brentford) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Lewis Payne (Newport County).

Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Kiban Rai (Newport County).

Attempt saved. Bryn Morris (Newport County) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Adam Lewis with a cross.

Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Mads Roerslev.

Foul by Aaron Hickey (Brentford).

Lewis Payne (Newport County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Read more
Similar news
This week's most popular news