This is the late televised game on Saturday and the five teams below Brentford in the table will have already played by kick off and the Bees will know exactly what is at stake. Despite their lowly position, they remain top 10 for xP and were 9th last season and 7th for xP. Underlying performances have not been bad and they have suffered the worst injury crisis to senior players in the EPL in history and have been without between 8-12 players for much of the campaign, for long periods without their entire backline and preferred front three. 

 

Anyway, they tend to find a way to perform against these name teams and their last home game was a 2-2 draw with Chelsea where they conceded late and deserved more. They also up their levels in night games at Lionel Road and almost always find a goal in any case and regardless of who is available to play, scoring in 26 of 27 home starts, with 2+ goals in 14 of those (51.85%). 

 

Big media story going into this game, which Sky will doubtless milk to death, will be Kobbie Mainoo and Ivan Toney facing each other after both impressed on their first starts for England on Tuesday. All eyes will be on the pair, but the truth is that the United youngster looks to have already booked his spot in the Euros squad, whereas Toney is still competing for his place, but has, arguably, already edged ahead of Ollie Watkins in the pecking order and needs to stay there. Toney also has a move to a Big 6 team to secure this summer and this feels like another massive game for him and he loves a stage on which to perform. 

 

There is talk that Brentford might have two players back in the matchday squad today, to get even one would be a major boost and with Bryan Mbeumo having played 11 minutes from the bench at Burnley before the international break, his first game time in three months, he is also likely to be fit for an hour + and what he brings to the party is a big goal threat with 11 goals and 7 assists from his last 23 EPL starts, but also pace and plenty of it and above all, that is what the Bees have been missing. 

 

Brentford won this fixture 4-0 last season, with all goals scored before the break and also had the better of the reverse fixture this season, being well on top and leading entering the 94th minute, missing multiple chances to seal the win, before finding a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!