A jubilant Brentford will host West Ham United at the Brentford Community Stadium in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
It will be an opportunity for revenge for West Ham United to inflict a loss on Brentford following their recent encounter in the Premier League. The Bees tamed Liverpool 3-1 in a very energetic affair, while the Hammers played out a 2-2 draw with Leeds United in the Premier League.
Brentford could emulate what West Ham did in the previous season with a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League. But they have surpassed their own expectations this season, and a place in the Europa League can definitely be achievable given their recent form.
Except for the game against Arsenal, Thomas Frank’s side has managed to snatch points from all the Premier League bigwigs this season. And their growing belief can help them in building solid momentum until the business end of the season. They are currently unbeaten in the last six games. But the west Londoners cannot lose focus from their main target as these kinds of games could set the tone.
For West Ham, 2022/23 has turned out to be a complete disaster as the Hammers are lying pretty low in the Premier League table. A trophy can bring back the smile on gloomy faces, and for that, they need to start beating teams like Brentford.
The Hammers did put an end to their losing streak of five games with a deserving draw against Leeds. But David Moyes’s job is still on the edge. And any further mishap could emerge to be quite problematic for him. A fresh approach could be the only solution for the Scotsman, and West Ham will be fancying a victory against Brentford in the opposition territory.
Team News & Tactics
Brentford
"He's almost a perfect Brentford player; he has very good potential, wants to learn, and is a good character. I really like his pace, ability to go in
behind, and his goalscoring potential. He will be involved in the squad tomorrow"#BrentfordFC | #BREWHU pic.twitter.com/EtEKAZvySf— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 6, 2023
Brentford did not have any problems in getting the better of Liverpool without their star man Ivan Toney, who is likely to be back in the thick of things this weekend. A possible suspension could be on the cards. But the player will be free to appear against the West Ham. Thomas Frank will be counting on his existing first-team players. So minimal changes could be expected in this London derby.
Thomas Strakosha should find himself in between the sticks on a rare evening at the Brentford Community Stadium. Their crisp pressing football has been the backbone behind their success, and the three-man backline has put up brilliant resistance throughout this season.
Ben Mee, Zanka and Ethan Pinnock will once again form a three-pronged defence to keep the West Ham attackers at bay. Despite the congestion of games, Frank does not want to break up the rhythm. And Vitaly Janelt’s injury in the last much could bring up the luck of Josh Dasilva, who could start in his place.
Mathias Jensen and Christian Norgaard will also share midfield duties, while Mads Roerslev and Rico Henry will serve as wing-backs. Ivan Toney’s return to the lineup should see him lining up ahead with Bryan Mbeumo.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Strakosha; Zanka, Mee, Pinnock; Roerslev, Dasilva, Jensen, Norgaard, Henry; Mbeumo, Toney
West Ham United
David Moyes should tinker with his lineup in a bid to keep his players fresh for a potential relegation fight. Alphonse Areola should feature between the sticks, while Angelo Ogbonna should replace Craig Dawson at the heart of the defence. Nayef Aguerd should stick to his place.
Emerson should come into the left-back slot, while Vladimir Coufal should be able to keep his place on the other flank. Tomas Soucek, Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta will likely take up the three available midfield positions.
Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen will be on the flanks, while Michail Antonio should lead the attacking pack. The Hammers are in the market for strikers, including Danny Ings. But for now, Antonio is the option to lead the line for West Ham against Brentford.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Areola; Coufal, Ogbonna, Aguerd, Emerson; Soucek, Rice, Paqueta; Bowen, Antonio, Benrahma
Key Stats
- This will be the first FA Cup clash between these two London sides since the 1926/27 season.
- West Ham’s luck in FA Cup London derbies has been very poor as they are on a seven-match losing run in this competition.
- West Ham have won five and drawn five in their last 12 games against Brentford in all competitions.
- The Bees are currently unbeaten in six games, while West Ham are yet to record a win in their last six matches.
- Brentford have managed just one win in their last 19 FA Cup matches against Premier League opponents.
Player to Watch
Ivan Toney
Ivan Toney’s return could be a big boost for Thomas Frank, as the English international has been scoring a lot of goals this campaign. The 26-year-old has been their prime scoring source, and he could expect to lit up the home turf with another glittering performance.
Ivan Toney in the Premier League in 2021/22:
🏟️ 34 games
⚽ 12 goalsIvan Toney in the Premier League in 2022/23 (so far):
🏟️ 16 games
⚽ 12 goalsExcellent output. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8BY5AZr6iI
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 30, 2022
Prediction
Brentford 1-0 West Ham United
Brentford’s recent run of form should provide them with an edge in this clash. But West Ham’s performance against Leeds should provide them with much optimism, which could be encashed in. The Hard Tackle is predicting a narrow 1-0 victory for the home side.
