Brentford will host Luton Town at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, looking to end their recent losing run with a victory at home.
Brentford have lost their last two league matches against Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League, and the home fans will be expecting a strong reaction when they welcome Luton Town to the Gtech Community Stadium.
A win here could send Brentford to the top half of the Premier League table and give them a confidence boost. Meanwhile, Luton Town are 17th in the league table, and they are coming into this game on the back of a victory against Crystal Palace at home.
The Hatters have picked up just two wins across the Premier League this season, and they will look to build on their recent performance over the Eagles. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
🎩 We host the Hatters this weekend
🔜 #BRELUT pic.twitter.com/mhc9qtWYlN
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) November 29, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Brentford
Brentford have a number of injury problems heading into this contest. Rico Henry is ruled out until the end of the season with knee injury. Aaron Hickey remains sidelined until January with a thigh issue.
Joshua Dasilva and Mikkel Damsgaard should return to action next week. Meanwhile, Nathan Collins and Kevin Schade are injured as well. Ivan Toney remains suspended until mid-January, even as his stock continues to rise.
Brentford are likely to shape up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Mark Flekken in goal. Kristoffer Ajer and Vitaly Janelt will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Ben Mee will start in central defence alongside Ethan Pinnock.
Christian Norgaard will start as the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to add a defensive cover to the side. Mathias Jensen and Frank Onyeka will start alongside him, and they will look to add physicality and defensive steel to the side. Neal Maupay will lead the line for Brentford here, with Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Flekken; Ajer, Pinnock, Mee, Janelt; Onyeka, Norgaard, Jensen; Mbeumo, Maupay, Wissa
Luton Town
Luton Town will be without a number of players due to injury problems as well. Dan Potts is ruled out with an ankle injury until the end of the month. Mads Andersen, Reece Burke and Albert Lokonga are ruled out with thigh injuries. Marvelous Nakamba remains long-term absentee with a knee injury.
The visitors are likely to shape up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Thomas Kaminski in goal. In the back three, Teden Mengi will start alongside Tom Lockyer and Gabriel Osho. Alfie Doughty and Amari’i Bell will be deployed as the wing-backs.
The duo will look to protect the central defence and nullify the attacking threat from the wide areas. Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu will start in central midfield alongside Ross Barkley, and the two players will look to add defensive cover and drive to the side. Finally, Carlton Morris will lead the line for Luton, with Andros Townsend and Chiedozie Ogbene on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Kaminski; Mengi, Lockyer, Osho; Doughty, Mpanzu, Barkley, Bell; Ogbene, Morris, Townsend
Key Stats
- Brentford have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven matches against Luton Town in all competitions.
- Brentford have won their last three home matches against Luton Town in all competitions.
- 19 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- Luton Town have conceded 23 goals in 13 league matches this season.
- Brentford have lost three of their last six league matches.
Player to Watch
Bryan Mbeumo
Brentford have been overly reliant on Bryan Mbeumo in the absence of Ivan Toney. The Cameroonian international will be expected to help create goalscoring opportunities with his pace and flair. He will also look to get on the scoresheet here.
Luton have been quite vulnerable defensively this season and they could struggle against his trickery this weekend. Meanwhile, Mbeumo was on fire when he most recently came up against a newly-promoted club, smashing Burnley black and blue.
Prediction
Brentford 2-1 Luton Town
Brentford are undoubtedly the better team heading into this contest, and they should be able to grind out all three points. They will be desperate to pick up a positive result after two consecutive defeats in the Premier League, and the players will be raring to prove themselves.
Meanwhile, Luton Town managed to beat Crystal Palace last time out. But they are the underdogs here and they will struggle to keep Brentford quite away from home. The visitors are likely to put up a fight, but they will end up on the losing side. A narrow 2-1 win for the home team is on the cards.
