Wolverhampton Wanderers are all set to host Brentford in the FA Cup third round replay after a 1-1 draw last time out.
Brentford are all set to hit the road to square up against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round replay after they failed to beat them in the initial fixture that was played in their backyard. The Bees dominated the proceedings but did not get the desired result. So, they will look to turn things around away from home.
The previous meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Brentford took the lead late in the first half but midway through the second half, Wolves were back in the mix despite being down to ten men. Despite having a disadvantage, they fought hard for the draw and will hope they get things right in the replay.
Wolves have done a decent job so far in the 2023/24 season. They have not been exceptional but have surely lived up to the expectations. The home team are comfortably sitting mid-table in the Premier League and have the opportunity to go beyond the third round with a win in this fixture.
Gary O’Neil’s team have been unbeaten in their last four outings. They have won three and drawn once. After a hat-trick of wins in the English top flight, they were forced to play out a draw against the Bees because they were a man down. But, this time around they won’t have a disadvantage and will go all out for the win.
Brentford have been struggling since the start of the 2023/24 season. They might not be in the relegation zone but they are not too far away. The Bees are only three points above the drop zone but have a game in hand. However, their recent form suggests they are finding life difficult in the top flight.
The visitors have been winless in their last six encounters. The draw that they secured in their previous outing against Wolves did help them end their five-match losing streak. While they have brought an end to the losing streak, they still need to win games in order to improve their chances of going further in the FA Cup and surviving in the top flight. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Joao Gomes was sent off in the previous outing between the two teams, and he will serve a ban. Meanwhile, Mario Lemina is unavailable for personal reasons.
Hwang Hee-chan, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Boubacar Traore are all out on international duty at the AFC Asian Cup and Africa Cup of Nations. The home team will also be without the services of Jonny, who is out for disciplinary reasons. Meanwhile, the availability of Craig Dawson and Hugo Bueno is subject to the results of fitness tests.
Wolves will go ahead with a 3-4-3 formation, where Jose Sa will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Max Kilman, Toti Gomes and Santiago Bueno. The trio will look to keep a clean sheet, and they will have the support of Nelson Semedo and Matt Doherty, who will feature out wide as the wing-backs.
The duo will look to help out the back three as well as join the attack when possible. Meanwhile, in the centre of the park, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde will start alongside Tommy Doyle. They will look to control the tempo.
Matheus Cunha could be the one leading the attack, while Pablo Sarabia and Pedro Neto will start out wide on the flanks. Not only will they provide width to their attack, but the duo will also look to cut inside and create scoring chances for their teammates as well as themselves.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Sa; Kilman, Toti, S. Bueno; Semedo, Doyle, Bellegarde, Doherty; Sarabia, Cunha, Neto
Brentford
Christian Norgaard was on the receiving end of the tackle by Joao Gomes which got him sent off. It also ended the Brentford skipper’s night early, and he is unlikely to play a part here.
The Bees already have a long list of injuries as Rico Henry (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh), Kevin Schade (groin), Kristoffer Ajer (ankle) and Bryan Mbeumo (ankle) are all out injured. Meanwhile, Yoane Wissa, Frank Onyeka and Saman Ghoddos are unavailable as they are out on international duty. Ben Mee is suspended, while Ivan Toney’s ban will be over after this fixture.
The Bees are expected to go ahead with the 3-5-1-1 formation, where Mark Flekken will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Zanka, Ethan Pinnock, and Nathan Collins. The trio will push for a clean sheet, and they will have the support of Mads Roerslev and Keane Lewis-Potter, who will feature as wing-backs.
In the centre of the park, Mathias Jensen will feature alongside Vitaly Janelt and Joshua Dasilva. The trio will look to ensure they dominate the ball and create chances for their forwards. Yegor Yarmolyuk will feature as the attacking midfielder behind striker Neal Maupay, who will lead the line for Brentford against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Probable Lineup (3-5-1-1): Flekken; Zanka, Collins, Pinnock; Roerslev, Jensen, Janelt, Dasilva, Lewis-Potter; Yarmolyuk; Maupay
Key Stats
- In the 33 outings between the two teams, Wolves have won 16 while Brentford have 12 wins to their name.
- The Bees last won against Wolves back in September 2021.
- The home team have not lost to Brentford in their last five meetings. They have won on three occasions.
- Brentford are winless in their last six outings.
- Both teams are all set to meet thrice in three weeks.
Player to Watch
Matheus Cunha
Last time out, Wolves were a man down and despite that, they managed to stay in the game. This time, they will push for a win, and Matheus Cunha might play a big part in it. The 24-year-old Brazilian striker has been a consistent performer for the home team this season.
He has featured in a total of 22 matches and has contributed towards 11 goals. He might not have lit up the world, but he is doing his bit. So, Wolverhampton Wanderers will hope he delivers in the FA Cup replay against Brentford.
Prediction
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Brentford
Wolves have had a much better campaign than the Bees so far. They are in a comfortable position in the Premier League, and their recent form is also better. In their last four outings, they have won thrice. Meanwhile, the visitors have not won their last six outings.
They suffered five consecutive defeats in the league before playing out the draw in the initial fixture between the two teams. Joao Gomes’s red card in the reverse fixture gave Brentford an advantage, but they could not make it count. Since this game will start on level terms, the Bees might not survive. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the home team.
