Macclesfield vs Brentford: Team News & Lineups – FA Cup 3rd Round

Macclesfield, Cheshire – In a David versus Goliath clash at the Leasing.com Stadium on Monday evening, sixth-tier Macclesfield Town will host Premier League side Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The match, kicking off at 19:30 GMT, pits a team riding high on the momentum of a historic cup upset against a Brentford side aiming to continue their impressive season.

Macclesfield stunned the footballing world in the third round with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, becoming the first team from the sixth tier of English football to eliminate a Premier League club. That victory, coupled with strong recent form in the National League North, has fueled belief within the Silkmen camp.

Brentford, currently enjoying a strong campaign in the Premier League, comfortably progressed past Sheffield Wednesday in the third round with a 2-0 win. Manager Keith Andrews has overseen a string of impressive results, including a recent 1-1 draw against league leaders Arsenal, and will be looking to avoid becoming the latest top-flight team to fall victim to an FA Cup shock.

Andrews has made seven changes to the side that drew with Arsenal, prioritizing rotation amidst a demanding schedule. Michael Kayode, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen are the only players to retain their places from that Premier League encounter. Talisman Igor Thiago has been named among the substitutes to preserve his fitness.

The Brentford starting XI features Hakon Valdimarsson in goal, with Nathan Collins captaining the side alongside Ethan Pinnock in central defence. Yarmoliuk and Jordan Henderson will control the midfield alongside Jensen, while Romelle Donovan and Reiss Nelson will provide attacking threat from wide areas. Notably, 19-year-old Kaye Furo is poised to make his professional debut, leading the attack.

Macclesfield’s starting lineup includes Dearnley, Fensome, Dawson, Buckley-Ricketts, Mellor, Duffy, Heathcote, Lacey, Osborne, Edmondson, and Borthwick-Jackson. Manager John Rooney will be hoping his side can replicate the spirit and determination that saw them overcome Crystal Palace.

Despite the significant gulf in league standings – 115 places separate the two teams in the English football pyramid – Macclesfield have been in excellent form, winning seven of their last nine matches across all competitions. They also boast an impressive record at the Leasing.com Stadium, having won six consecutive matches on home soil.

Brentford have already advanced further in this season’s FA Cup than they had in their previous three campaigns, though they have only once reached the fifth round in their last 19 attempts. A victory tonight would see them reach the fifth round for only the second time in nearly two decades.

However, Brentford have never faced non-league opposition as a top-flight side in the FA Cup, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this encounter. The Bees will be wary of the potential for an upset, particularly given Macclesfield’s recent giant-killing exploits.

With long-term absentees Fábio Carvalho and Josh Dasilva still unavailable for Brentford, and Macclesfield enjoying a strong run of form, the stage is set for a captivating FA Cup tie. While the odds are heavily stacked in Brentford’s favour, Macclesfield will be determined to prove that their fairytale run is far from over.