Macclesfield look to claim a second Premier League scalp in their concluding fourth-round tie against Brentford in the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup.
Victory would see the modern iteration of Macclesfield advance to the fifth round for the first time, bettering their previous iteration’s best finish of the fourth round in 2012-13 season when known as Macclesfield Town then.
Brentford meanwhile look to advance to the fifth round for the first time since 2018-19 season.
Team News
Macclesfield have no fresh injury concerns to report.
Brentford will welcome Reiss Nelson back into contention after he was ineligible to feature in their 1-1 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League.
Kevin Schade (suspension), Fabio Carvalho, Josh Dasilva and Antoni Milambo (all ACL) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Macclesfield host Brentford at Moss Rose on Monday 16 February at 7:30pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 3 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is the current iteration of Macclesfield’s first meeting against Brentford in all competitions.
- Brentford are making their first away trip to the current iteration of Macclesfield, but have failed to win any of their two previous visits albeit in 2007-08 & 08-09 League Two.
- Macclesfield are yet to concede at home to Brentford in their two previous clashes at Moss Rose, having won 1-0 in November 2007 then 2-0 in January 2009.
- Macclesfield have failed to keep clean sheets in any of their three previous FA Cup proper rounds this season (W3), during which they needed extra time in first and second rounds win over AFC Totton and Slough respectively.
- Brentford have avoided defeat in 13 of 17 FA Cup meetings against Non-League opposition this century (W10, D3, L4), although three of their 14 such ties went to replays – which is no longer allowed.
Prediction
Having executed a clinical third-round victory over Crystal Palace with their low block and set-piece threats, Macclesfield have since kept a single clean sheet in their last six matches – during which they won four and lost twice but won their three home games in that period.
John Rooney’s Silkmen though might need to mix it up this time because Brentford are more than capable of matching them in the low block tactics, as saw by how deep the Bees played with organised resilient to hold Arsenal on Thursday evening so creative variety could be needed to get the result.
Keith Andrews though will likely make some changes but even if the likes of Nathan Collins, Jordan Henderson, Nelson and Kaye Furo start, I can see Brentford having enough quality to win this if they turn up with the right attitude even if need to turn to their quality bench.
Moss Rose though has often been their Achilles heel in their two previous visits but given the gulf in quality, I can see Brentford ending that hoodoo if stay focused and don’t underestimate Macclesfield’s threat.
Prediction: Macclesfield 1-3 Brentford
