Just one week after the return from the enforced break for Covid19, the Championship is already getting very interesting and we are set for a fascinating weekend at the top end of the table, one which gets underway with a cracking match on Friday night.
It is a match which sees the leaders West Bromwich Albion travelling to take on the team from the chasing pack to get into the automatic promotion places that are most feared in Brentford, in a clash which sees two of the best in the Championship going at it.
Where to watch
You can watch the match in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Football. The programme begins at 7pm with the match kicking off at 745pm.
Brentford
I think pound for pound Brentford are probably the best team in the Championship this season. They certainly mix it with anyone style wise and if they had a little more consistency they would be in the top two right now. That did not hamper them on their return to action last weekend however, when they went to Craven Cottage and came away with a very encouraging win over fellow promotion chasers Fulham. Another here would have them in a great position going into the final seven games.
Brentford are the top scorers in the division, with their front three of Said Benrahma, Ollie Watkins and Bryan Mbeumo impressing throughout the campaign. Only Leeds have conceded less goals than them this season as well so Brentford are serious players in the promotion race. They just need to stay strong and avoid some sloppy defeats between now and the end of the campaign and they could be playing Premier League football next season.
West Bromwich Albion
The Baggies have had a great season so far and although there wasn’t too much to rejoice in on their return to action last week, the point they picked up against Birmingham City was enough for them to go back to the top of the table. Promotion is the overall aim so I doubt the title is in their minds at the minute but if they can win this match it would put a massive 10 points between themselves and Brentford and pretty much ensure they will remain above them until the end of the campaign.
West Brom have only lost five matches all season but they are without a win in three matches either side of lockdown and that is a patch of form they will be looking to address here. Only their opponents here have scored more goals than the Baggies this term and only Brentford and Leeds have shipped fewer. West Brom fans will be hoping that Matheus Pereira can continue to light up the Championship in this match and guide them to a win.
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Team News
Bryan Mbuemo missed the win over Fulham due to a positive coronavirus test and his period of isolation may mean that he misses this match as well. Sergi Canos and Nikolaos Karelis are both likely to miss out but Pontus Jansson showed no signs of ill effects after his return from injury last week.
Jonathan Leko remains on the sidelines for the Baggies, while Slaven Bilic is also expected to have to do without Nathan Ferguson, who has announced he is leaving The Hawthorns at the end of the month. Charlie Austin and Grady Diangana could come in if the former West Ham boss freshens up his ranks.
Betting
Both these sides are defensively sound and they both kept clean sheets on Saturday and I fancy the defences will remain on top here too. Since West Brom were relegated back into the Championship these two sides have met on three occasions and they have all contained under 2.5 goals. I see that trend continuing here I have to say, even allowing for the quality both teams have in forward areas. You often see in matches of this type that teams show too much respect to each other and cancel each other out.
We’ve not seen many high scoring matches across English football since the sport returned and unless something unforeseen happens here I’m not expecting one here. The match is huge for both teams. West Brom probably come out of it better with a draw but Brentford will know this is their one last tough fixture on paper so not losing any ground would be an acceptable outcome. I anticipate a tight match and a low scoring one too.
Tips
WON – Back Under 2.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with 888sport
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