📰 Table Of Contents
Recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
Match preview
Will Brentford’s unbeaten streak continue?
Last time out, almost a fortnight ago, the Bees held Leeds to a goalless draw at Elland Road, despite not mustering a single shot on target.
This though extends their unbeaten run to eight matches, winning four of them, last losing in the Premier League on 23 October.
Only once in their entire history have Brentford enjoyed a longer unbeaten sequence in the top-flight, going 14 games without a loss between 29 February and 5 September 1936.
All of this leaves Thomas Frank’s team eighth, remarkably, just below the European spots.
Southampton meanwhile have been in action three times since Brentford’s last game, across both cup competitions.
However, on Tuesday night, Nathan Jones’ side fell short in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, beaten 2-1 by Newcastle at St James’ Park, exiting 3-1 on aggregate.
Back in the Premier League, Southampton actually kick off bottom of the table, albeit they’re just three points worse off than Leicester in 14th.
The Saints have lost seven of their last eight league engagements, with that 2-1 victory at Goodison very much the outlier.
Southampton were beaten 3-0 when they visited the Brentford Community Stadium in May, with this one likely to go the same way.
Brentford team news
Having not had a game for 13 days, Thomas Frank is unlikely to make many changes to his starting XI.
Frank deployed a back three/five at Elland Road, but could revert to the back four used in their last home game, a win over Bournemouth.
New winger Kevin Schade has come off the bench in the Bees’ last two games, and is likely to be a substitute once more.
Ivan Toney has scored 14 goals this season, but Southampton are one of five current Premier League clubs he’s yet to find the net against.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Ajer, Pinnock, Mee, Henry; Dasilva, Nørgaard, Jensen; Mbuemo, Wissa, Toney.
Southampton team news
Nathan Jones’ XIs have been notoriously tough to predict since his arrival on the South Coast, and he could make yet more changes, after an energy-sapping defeat on Tyneside in mid-week.
Kyle-Walker Peters hobbled off injured in that Carabao Cup defeat, making him a doubt for this one.
Elsewhere in defence, Jan Bednarek started for Southampton for the first time since 23 August, having spent the intervening period on loan at Aston Villa.
At right-back, James Bree impressed in his first appearance for the club; he followed Jones from Luton.
Duje Ćaleta-Car could come back in having served his one-match suspension; Armel Bella-Kotchap is injured.
While the Newcastle game was going on, the Saints were strengthening their forward line, with Kamaldeen Sulemana arriving from Rennes and Paul Onuachu joining from Genk.
Neither are likely to debut here, but, when he does play, you literally can’t miss Onuachu, given that he’s 6 ft 7 in (201cm) tall, in every sense of the word.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Bazunu; Bree, Lyanco, Ćaleta-Car, Salisu, Perraud; Alcaraz, Lavia, Ward-Prowse; Adams, Oršić.
Premier League Survivor: £25k+ Prize Pool!
PREMIER LEAGUE SURVIVOR TIP OF THE WEEK
Premier League Big5: £1,000+ Prize Pool!
PREMIER LEAGUE BIG5 TIP OF THE WEEK
Brentford vs Southampton: Head to head statistics
[STATISTICS]
