Can the Chairboys control Bees firepower?

Photo: Football League World

EFL Player Of The Month for October Ivan Toney will be looking to maintain his strong start to the season when Brentford travel to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

The Englishman, who joined the Bees from Newcastle United in August for £5million, has recorded ten goals in 11 games this season and will be hoping to continue his fine form against a Wycombe side who have managed just six goals this whole campaign.

However, it is not just Toney who has caught the eye for Brentford this season. Finnish striker Marcus Forss has also started the season with a bang having netted four goals in eight appearances, despite the 21-year-old starting on the bench in all of those games.

Wycombe have so far fared reasonably well in the Championship following their promotion from League One last season and despite being 22nd in the league, have shown in most of their games that they’re able to compete.

The Chairboys had picked up back-to-back wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City to lift them off the bottom but a 2-0 loss away at Nottingham Forest last time out put the breaks on for Gareth Ainsworth’s side.

A win for Wanderers could see them climb out of the relegation zone whilst Brentford, who are 11th and yet to win a league game in November, could shoot up into the playoffs spots with victory.

Stat Pack

Forss’ goal scoring rate is currently one every 35 minutes, the best rate in the division (followed by Adam Armstrong who has scored one every 78 minutes).

Wycombe and Brentford have met 31 times during their respective histories and both have ten wins each  with 11 draws.

The teams played in the League Cup back in September where Brentford emerged victories following a penalty shootout however they have never faced off in the Championship.

Team News

Gareth Ainsworth is expected to have a fully fit squad available.

Thomas Frank will be without three first team regulars in Christian Norgaard, Mads Roerlsav and Shandon Baptiste whilst central defender Pontus Jansson’s fitness will be assessed up until the game as he has emerged as a potential doubt.

What The Managers Said:

Gareth Ainsworth discussed Brentford, Thomas Frank and his team’s performances with Wycombe’s official website ahead of the weekend:

“They’ve got a lot of talent and an excellent manager in Thomas Frank who’s a good friend and has always been very complimentary about us,” he stated. 

“They’ve recruited really well down the years and they get it right when they sign players.

“We need to make sure we’re super-prepared and take the performances over the past few games into this match.

“Even when we were losing games to Millwall, Reading and Norwich, the performances were there and then the points started to come.”

Frank Thomas spoke to West London Sport on their season so far ahead of their trip to Adams Park Stadium:

“We have played good or top in nine of our 11 league games, with the exceptions Preston and Stoke, and if we continue that ratio, then we will collect a lot of points going forward,” he said.

“I would love to have more of these complete performances like we had at Luton and at home to Huddersfield, which was really good as well.

“I just sense there is more to come from the group and we will do everything we can to get the best out of the players going forward.

“Asked if the team was where he expected it to be in the table at this stage, he said: “I don’t know, I didn’t expect anything after 11 games, I’m just focusing on what is coming up next.”

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