Promotion hopefuls Brentford host Championship leaders West Brom

Fourth-placed Brentford will look to make it back-to-back wins and cement their place in the play-off spots ahead of the visit of top of the table West Bromwich Albion.

The Bees have been chasing Leeds and tomorrow’s opponents for a large part of the season but manager Thomas Frank admitted that it maybe a difficult task to catch up as he eyes the play-offs.

“I think of course it’s tough, we are ten points off with nine games left.

“It’s a very tough task, we almost need to play nine perfect games and that will be extremely hard with squad rotation, they will be coming thick and fast not just for one or two weeks but potentially five and a half weeks.

“It’s either West Brom and Leeds are in the Prem or it’s game on, so we’re looking forward to this weekend. They are favourites to go up. But we will attack, play positive and be brave.

“In a top game like this, all our players need to perform on a seven, eight out of 10 and hopefully a few on a 10, then we will be in a good place.”

Two late goals from Said Benrahma and Emiliano Marcondes were enough to seal a vital win over Fulham and go within a point of their local rivals who sit in third place.

West Brom have now gone three games without scoring and four without a win but their away record remains impressive. The Baggies have lost just two games on the road this season, shipping 14 goals in the process. They will feel last week’s 0-0 draw with local rivals Birmingham was a missed opportunity as Leeds fell to defeat.

Manager Slaven Bilic realises it’s going to be a tough game. Speaking ahead of the trip to West London, the Croatian said:

“I’m thinking about our options, we have different options. Not because of fatigue. That will come but we’ve had five days of good preparation. But it’s about the team, the cause that we all have and share.

“We all have to sacrifice for the team if necessary. The guys are doing brilliantly. And make no mistake – especially after the Brentford game – we’re going to need every player.

“It’s a big test of course but then it’s also a normal game. We approach it in a good position, a good state of mind and it’s only one of eight games remaining. We have a lot of big games but considering our situation we know there are two important games Brentford and Fulham. But we are concentrating on all our games”

Team News

Brentford will welcome the return of winger Bryan Mbuemo. Mbuemo, who has scored 14 goals this season, was absent last week after testing positive for coronavirus. Sergi Canos and Nikos Karelis remain sidelined.

West Brom have an almost full squad to choose from with no fresh injury worries. Jonathan Leko and Nathan Ferguson remain long-term absentees.

Head-to-Head

The two sides have only met on 19 occassions with West Brom winning 12 of those. Their last meeting came in December and that ended in a 1-1 draw.