Great chance for Callum Wilson, that.

Brentford just switched off for a moment and the Newcastle forward was able to pounce on a bouncing ball in the area to hammer a right-footed effort on the angle at goal, but Bees stopper Luke Daniels pads it away.

A warning for the hosts.

I'll echo that, a good start from the Championship hosts, they've been brighter than Newcastle's luminous away strip so far.

Karen Carney
Former England and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's been a good start from Brentford and I feel like Newcastle are still on the bus.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce already showing some concerned body language on the touchline and well he might. Brentford have started very well here and already carved out two presentable chances.

And the Bees go close from the corner!

An unmarked Ethan Pinnock meets the delivery and heads narrowly over.

He'll feel he should have hit the target, at least...

That's a lovely delivery from Saman Ghoddos, whipping it through that corridor of uncertainty and Callum Wilson has to touch it behind for a Brentford corner.

Sergi Canos, king of Twitter graphics, wins a free-kick in a dangerous position for the hosts.

Stick this one in the mixer?

Jacob Murphy almost pounces on a loose ball in the Brentford half but the hosts recover well.

A couple of early touches for Josh Dasilva on the right before Saman Ghoddos cuts in from the other flank to fire over.

Karen Carney
Former England and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Brentford's stadium is fantastic. It's clean, it's slick, the staff are wonderful and it's a credit to the football club that they have produced this type of venue. It would be great to see them in the Premier League and this place would be absolutely rocking!

However, the pitch is cutting up a bit.

Away we go, both sides take the knee before Newcastle get this one under way.

Right then, it's almost time for the first Carabao Cup quarter-final, and here's how the sides line up...

Brentford XI: Daniels, Fosu, Pinnock, Sorensen, Thompson, Janelt, Dasilva, Emiliano, Ghoddos, Canos, Forss.

Newcastle XI: Darlow, Yedlin, Hayden, Clark, Lewis, Shelvey, S Longstaff, Murphy, Fraser, Almiron, Wilson.

More from Steve Bruce before kick-off: "We have looked at the situation, it has been difficult, but we have put out as strong a team as we can and let's hope we have enough.

"It would be great for us, I have stressed the importance of cup competitions - what a wonderful incentive to get there, if we can.

"Brentford have been a good side for years now and you can see their progression, they play a certain way and have been there of thereabouts. We know what to expect."

Karen Carney
Former England and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Newcastle haven't really had cup success but Steve Bruce knows what the fans want and he has prioritised that when he has come in. I think he has put out a strong side tonight and I think it's a good opportunity for Bruce to deliver silverware or a good cup run.

I'm very surprised at the Brentford starting XI because I thought Ivan Toney would play - but they have obviously gone with the success that has got them to this point, beating three other Premier League sides.

It is big for Newcastle, they will be expected to win here and it's not an easy place to come.

Cracking graphics work here...

With Ollie Watkins leaving for Aston Villa for £30m in the summer, Brentford dipped into the transfer market for a replacement and paid Peterborough around £5m for Ivan Toney.

The prolific forward is closing in on 100 league goals in his career and has scored 56 times in his last 83 league starts, but is named on the bench this evening.

"He's obviously had the biggest disappointment of all of being rejected, but the way he looks at the minute, of course, he will want to do his utmost to make sure he proves people wrong for letting him go," said Newcastle boss Steve Bruce.

"They've been a good side now for the best part of three, four, five years.

"They sell their centre-forward for £30m and buy him for £5m or £6m or whatever it was, and he's the top goalscorer, so they keep reproducing it and they do it very well."

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, on Sky Sports: "Two very important messages to get out there: one, we will do everything we can to get into the semi-final. Two, we want to do well in the league.

"We have two of the best strikers in the Championship, so I have massive belief in Marcus (Forss) - I believe he is a modern striker who has the rare ability to score goals and link play.

"Newcastle have put a strong side out so they respect us, which is good.

"(It is) massive, how often can you write a new history? This is the first time ever we can go to a semi-final, so it is very big for us."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Fair few eyebrows raised here at Brentford manager Thomas Frank's decision to make six changes to his side, including leaving the Championship's top scorer Ivan Toney on the bench.

This looks like a great opportunity for the Bees to reach their first major cup semi-final and Toney is their biggest attacking weapon.

Time will tell if Frank has made the right call.

So much chatter about Ivan Toney, but it is Marcus Forss who gets the nod up top for the hosts this evening - the 21-year-old Finland international has seven goals in all competitions for the Bees this season and has scored in the past two rounds of the Carabao Cup.

Perhaps with an eye on promotion, Brentford boss Thomas Frank has left top scorer Ivan Toney on the bench against old club Newcastle.

Frank says the 24-year-old has ambitions to return to the Premier League.

"Ivan has an inner drive and determination to reach the highest possible level," he said.

"There are always situations in our careers that inspire or irritate us enough to make sure we work hard every single day to prove some people wrong.

"Ivan has big ambitions and would like to prove he can play in the Premier League."