Match Preview: Brentford

C7723F3E-B60A-46A5-8F8E-899A0FF36562 — Image: Reuters

A win against Brentford tonight is crucial. The morale of the squad and fans alike is very low at the moment so a win over our rivals would be the perfect tonic to pick us back up…

The match against Aston Villa was depressing. We cant defend and with injury concerns for Tete, Lemina and Reed things are looking bleak. This match against Brentford gives us the opportunity to lift spirits as they are looking a lot less menacing than the team we played last season. They only have one win and a draw so far this season and last season’s key man Said Benhrama is yet to start due to the cloud of transfer speculation over his head. This team are worse than the side we faced at Wembley.

In terms of a team, I think we should field a strong team but still rotate some positions. I think Rodak should replace Areola in goal for all cup ties. In defence, I would start Odoi, Hector, Le Marchand and Robinson. Anguissa and Cairney holding with Decordova-Reid in attacking midfield, and a front three of Knockaert, Mitro and Cavaleiro.

I think we will win 3-1 with Mitro, Decordova-Reid and Cavaleiro scoring.

Head To Head

Fulham Wins – 22
Draws – 17
Brentford Wins – 22
Goals For – 79
Goals against – 85
Biggest Wins – Fulham 5-0 Brentford (1947/48), Fulham 5-0 Brentford (1952/53)

Last 5 Games

Brentford 1-2 Fulham (AET)
Fulham 0-2 Brentford
Brentford 1-0 Fulham
Fulham 1-1 Brentford
Brentford 3-1 Fulham

Last Time Out

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF FINAL

BRENTFORD 1-2 FULHAM (AET)

The last time we played Brentford we beat them 2-1 at Wembley to gain promotion to the Premier League. Joe Bryan scored a 30-yard free-kick and a one on one in extra time to give us the lead over our bitter rivals. Henrik Dalsgaard got a late consolation goal for the Bee’s but it wasn’t enough and we came out victorious.

Players in Common

Paul Brooker, Simon Brown, Wayne Brown, Peter Buchanan, Terry Bullivant, David Button, David Carlton, Glenn Cockerill, Roger Cross, Danny Cullip, John Fraser, Tony Finnigan, Ryan Fredericks, Darren Freeman, Ron Greenwood, Kelley Haag, Jimmy Hill, Terry Hurlock, Richard Lee, Barry Lloyd, Archibald Macaulay, Tony Mahoney Alfie Mawson, Robert Milsom, Tony Parks, Gerry Peyton, Darren Pratley, John Salako, Barry Salvage, Steve Scrivens, Paul Scrubb, Tony Sealy, Les Strong, Marcello Trotta, Michael Turner, Paul Watson and Callum Willock.

Opposition Focus

We spoke to Robin Hood from @Beesotted podcast & blog to get a Bees perspective ahead of tonight’s game…

Do you expect to the club to do better or worse than last season?

I’ve said already that this will be a season of transition. We’ve moved to a whole new stadium and sold a significant player, with one more possibly out the door. We’re recovering from last season’s heartbreak of missing out on promotion three times in three weeks, and we need to be realistic.

I will say that I think playoffs is a minimum expectation for the club. The core of last season’s promotion push is still here, and if our summer additions can get up to speed with the Championship I think we will achieve that. However, I personally cannot take another playoffs. Groundhog day is an understatement. If we’re going up, we need to get to the top two. My pessimistic prediction is 7th place.

What are your early thoughts on Ivan Toney, is he enough to replace the goals of Ollie Watkins?

I really like Toney. He’s a slightly different beast to Watkins, but if all goes to plan he will surely end up being just as prolific. His pace and work rate is phenomenal for someone his size. He holds the ball up well and can distribute, great defensively in our own box. His penalty against Millwall to get him off the mark was important, and he should kick on from there.

I could wax lyrical and give you a poem about how good Watkins was, but we need to move on and forward. Our recruitment system is defined by our very ability to replace fantastic players going for millions with rough diamonds bought for pennies. Toney was expensive by our standards, and that along with his reputation and the player he’s replacing puts a lot of weight on his shoulders. But I have faith that Ivan will come good, he just needs time.

You’ve beaten Southampton and WBA so far in the cup. Do you look at the way we’ve started in the Premier League and think you would’ve given it a better go?

Who knows. I think we would be defending a lot better, let’s put it that way. I could play a team of C3PO, the Honey Monster and 9 Subbuteo players against Fulham these days and we’d probably get a couple of goals. Teams often get up to the Premier League and splurge their new riches on loads of attacking talent without bolstering the defence, and Fulham were guilty of that a couple of seasons ago.

It’s only three games into a new season that had it’s pre-season preparation time cut drastically, so it would be unfair to make predictions now. But I saw Tony Khan tweet his frustration about not signing centre-backs, and it had the air of a “the dog ate my homework” style excuse. Our wins over Southampton and WBA were fantastic, we seem to be so much more relaxed in the cup where the expectations and pressure are lower, but that doesn’t mean we would be smashing it in the Premier League. I think we would be enjoying it more than you are though, as the novelty of Brentford in the Premiership wouldn’t have worn off yet. You need defenders, though. Desperately.

How do you feel that Fulham are the first Premier League side to play at your new home?

Steady on, we’ve beaten more Premier League sides than you this season! *insert winking face here*

I see absolutely no significance in it, in all honesty. We had our first ever game, our first competitive game, our first league game and our first goal. The “firsts” for the new stadium will be coming thick and fast, and this is another one. I guess it would’ve been nice to play a team like Liverpool or United, but it wouldn’t really make it more significant unless fans were able to attend.

The moves complete. New stadium: what are your honest thoughts?

We needed to move to grow as a club, and that’s what we’ve done. The new stadium looks incredible and even the multi-coloured seats are alleged to work when you’re actually inside. The facilities, location, layout: it all looks fantastic.

The frustration about not being able to get into the stadium to watch the games, especially following the government pausing plans on returning fans to competitive sport. I use the metaphor of the family home. Griffin Park was our family home, we grew up there and are sometimes defined by it, but we all need to leave the family home someday, in order to grow and move forward. It’s a very positive move for the club, now for actually getting fans in there when it’s safe and appropriate to do so.

How do you see the game panning out?

Fulham need the win more than we do. I think we can take or leave a Carabao cup run, but you guys need a win against us to boost morale. Bragging rights of a local rivalry are also at stake. It should be a cracking game for the neutral.

It certainly won’t be the same atmosphere as previous league games between us, but I can foresee a very competitive game. There will be goals, that’s for sure. Depending on the teams each manager puts out, I think your need to win will see you through in a goal-filled encounter between two sides playing flowing attractive football. But I could be wrong.

Brentford 2-4 Fulham

Thanks to Robin Hood from Beesotted.com for answering our questions.

Check out this weeks Beesotted podcast, previewing tonights game here.