Brentford v Charlton AthleticTuesday 7 July | Kick-Off: 18.00pm (Live on Valley Pass)Previous Result: Charlton Athletic 1-0 BrentfordReferee: John Brooks (Leicestershire) - Previously officiated us twice this season: Leeds (H) and Barnsley (H).IntroductionThe less we say about our latest result the better. Performance wise we may have put in one of our better performances against those lot down the road, but that doesn't seem to make much difference as the result stays the same. Fortunately, it could be said that the results that followed of the clubs around us were favourable, making the loss on Friday night all the more frustrating! As the theme now for the rest of the season, the quick turnaround in fixtures means we must move on swiftly and remember, the value of the points at stake are the same in every game we go into. Next up is arguably the toughest game on paper, an in form Brentford away.
OppositionManager: Thomas Frank (44.4% win rate) |
Stadium: Griffin Park
League Position: 3rd |
Nickname(s): The Bees
Fun Facts:- Similarly to Cardiff City, Brentford were formed by a group of another sport, this time Brentford rowing club. The aim was to give them something to do during the winter months, but Brentford were so nearly a rugby club and not football. Members of the Brentford rowing club voted in favour of football, 8 votes to 5.
- After staying at Griffin Park since 1904, Brentford will move a mile down the road to a newly built stadium which is due to be called Lionel Road. However, this isn't the first time they have almost left the ground. Back in 1967, QPR tried to buy out Brentford from Griffin Park but after large protests that reached the national press, the Chairman sold his shares as the sale collapsed.
Brentford played Wigan Athletic at home last time out, winning 3-0. Their line up was:
Raya
Dalsgaard | Jansson | Pinnock | Henry
Marcondes | Norgaard | Baptiste
Mbeumo | Watkins | Benrahma
Fantastic form of four wins in a row since the return of football last month, which included beating Fulham and West Brom, have provided Brentford with a reasonable chance of automatic promotion. Brentford will also know that a win against us on Tuesday night will mathematically secure their place in the play-offs if Derby fail to beat West Brom on Wednesday evening. Brentford's league position may be currently 3rd, but to many they're deemed as the best team in the division. The league's top scorers and best defence have continued to prove that as they are yet to concede a goal since we returned, whilst scoring 9 in the process. Without doubt, Brentford are a very dangerous side and one capable of humiliating their opposition if they're in the mood. Having won 7-0 against Luton back in November, they've since beat fellow strugglers Hull 5-1, and Sheffield Wednesday 5-0. The Bees home form has been what's kept them buzzing around at the top end of the table. With the best home record in the league, this match on Tuesday evening is likely to be our hardest remaining fixture.
Brentford are known for their front 3 attackers, BMW is how they've been nicknamed, and rightly so too. So far this season, 53 goals and 20 assists between them at an average age of 22.67 years, make them an incredibly lethal attack. Ollie Watkins is the player who usually gets most of the attention, the young striker moved from Exeter back in 2017 for a reported fee of £1.8mil, just one example of Brentford's excellent recruitment. He has since gone from strength to strength, previously used as a winger or attacking midfielder, he has taken to the central striking position this season like a duck to water. The quick, yet surprisingly strong and aggressive attacker can look after himself against tough defenders, whilst having the ability to come short and create another body in midfield. Overloading that area is a real strength to a Brentford side who already keep the ball exceptionally well. However, it would be wrong and stupid to focus too much on him as the Bees possess a lot of sting in their attack. Benrahma proved exactly that on Saturday as he came away with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick against Wigan. We are going to have to be at our very best to stop this attack on Tuesday.
The way Brentford play is expansive and skilful, using the width of the pitch to their advantage. One wide player we know all about is Fosu, and this Brentford side is perfectly suited to the way he plays. However, it is likely that he is to start on the bench. Other tactical factors are that they use the press extremely well so don't expect us to be able to play our way out of defence too much. Going long up to Hemed and/or Aneke to hold could be the way we get up the pitch. Brentford aren't just useful with the ball though, they're rapid on the counter attack too. One move you will often see is Watkins dropping short, but this is used a decoy. One of the central defenders will naturally follow Watkins when he comes short in attacking transitions, but what Brentford do so impressively is their movement off the ball. As Watkins comes short, it creates an opening for one of the wide attackers to enter in the area he has just vacated. They push their full-backs up high which naturally covers the space that their wide attackers were initially filling, but often the ball never reaches Watkins. Instead in this well rehearsed attacking transition, the ball goes beyond and in behind, utilising the pace of their players. The opposition are now running and facing their own goal and that's where Brentford hurt teams the most.
Charlton Team NewsLast time out, Lee Bowyer named the same team we had when we won against Hull and QPR, therefore making 7 changes again. In this fixture, it would be wise not to expect the same volume of changes, but changes we should expect indeed. Away at Brentford, it is likely Bowyer is to go with a back 5, trying to ensure we don't allow the spaces they will create in order to hurt us. I would expect to see Sarr and Doughty to be included in that 5, with Field sitting alongside Cullen in midfield. A very similar team to away at Cardiff could be used with Forster-Caskey coming back in. But further questions remain on personnel, could we see someone like Oztumer come into the squad? Is Morgan fit to be part of the team after coming off at half time on Friday? Could we see Williams start for the first time since the return? Lots of questions and different selections for Bowyer to mull over, but what is for certain is he will be doing everything he can to ensure we maintain our unbeaten record against the top 6 this season.
Subs: Amos, Oshilaja, Purrington, Pratley, Morgan, Williams, McGeady, Green, Bonne
PredictionAny kind of result here will be a bonus. With teams below us in the table playing each other the league could yet get even more close. A draw away at an in form Brentford pushing for promotion would be fantastic. Let's hope the pain from Friday is used to fuel fire in our belly to ensure we don't suffer another defeat. It's going to be difficult, but this league is crazy so it would be unwise to completely write us off. Let's be optimistic even if it's more unlikely.
Brentford 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Hemed
Comments
0.0 is my prediction more in hope than expectation.
I think Pratley has to play (in the libero role), so my preferred line up is as follows:
Phillips
Matthews
Purrington
Lockyer
Pearce
Cullen
Pratley
Field
Doughty
Aneke
Green
Subs: Amos, Oshilaja, Purrington, Sarr, Morgan, McGeady, Williams, Hemed, Bonne
Agree with that team otherwise though - Great write up as always @Sage
Every logical thought I have tells me this should be a straight forward win for Brentford.
But football often doesn't go as you would expect. If it did we would all make a killing at the bookies.
I expect both teams to make changes for this game with fixtures coming so close together.
A backs to the wall 1.1 Draw with Phillips being man of the match to get over his slip against millwall.
COYA.
3-0 Brentford.
cant see a win for us as we struggle to score. defensively ok but i believe they will get at least 1. so 1-0 to Brentford and hope we can get a result against Reading even if they did just thrash Luton.
a) going to get tonked by at least 4 clear goals
or
b) the lads will astound us all by grinding out a 0-0 draw for a valuable point.
Cant see us scoring.
...... Yes 1-0 to us , it's the Charlton way , Sarr with a late set, piece winner .
Logic would suggest at least a 3-0 win for Brentford, so I’m predicting 0-1 to Charlton. A fairly ungenerous 15/2 for the win, and 20/1 for 0-1 with Paddy Power.
Do Brentford sometimes get complacent or do they struggle if you pack out the defence and restrict the space?
Phillips
Matthews Lockyer Pearce Sarr Oshilaja
Forster-Caskey Pratley Cullen Morgan
Hemed
I have a feeling Bows will rest quite a few players again , he will go for a defensive formation and just play one up front.
2-0 defeat
PS QPR have just scored v. Middlesbrough :-)
(Good results yesterday too).