Three points will be like goldust when Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford face off at the Molineux on Saturday.
We are approaching the business end of the 2023/24 season, with only three months remaining in the campaign. Gameweek 24 in the Premier League will get underway with the game between Manchester City and Everton before Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford lock horns at the Molineux.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have progressed well under the tutelage of Gary O’Neil. They were in the doldrums ahead of the 2023/24 season, with Julen Lopetegui leaving the club days before the first match. O’Neil took charge and has galvanised the squad, with the hosts breaching the top ten after a recent excellent run. So, bright days beckon the Black Country outfit.
As for Brentford, the Bees have endured a frustrating season thus far, winning only six of their 22 outings thus far. Ivan Toney’s absence and Bryan Mbeumo’s injury have contributed to their struggles, and they are only three points clear of the relegation zone. So, they might find themselves in the bottom three if Nottingham Forest, Luton Town, and Everton win their games.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford have locked horns thrice thus far this season, Gary O’Neil’s men being unbeaten (W2 D1). The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Gary O’Neil does not have any new roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Brentford on Saturday, the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager will be bereft of the services of only one first-team player.
Hwang Hee-chan will soon return to action after South Korea’s elimination from the AFC Asian Cup. But he might not be back in time to take on Brentford this weekend. Meanwhile, Boubacar Traore should be in the matchday squad after Mali’s ouster from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Jose Sa should take his spot between the sticks, with Wolverhampton Wanderers lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of Brentford. The central defensive unit should feature Max Kilman, Craig Dawson, and Toti Gomes, with Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri being the two wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes will form a primarily defensive-minded pairing. But the duo will also look to initiate quick transitions. The pair’s presence in the middle of the park will give the three attackers — Pablo Sarabia, Pedro Neto, and Matheus Cunha — the freedom to express themselves freely.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Sa; Kilman, Dawson, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Sarabia, Neto; Cunha
Brentford
Like his counterpart in the Wolverhampton Wanderers dugout, Thomas Frank has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of the trip to the Molineux. The Brentford boss will be without seven first-team players on Saturday.
Saman Ghoddos is back after representing Iran at the AFC Asian Cup. But Yoane Wissa and Frank Onyeka remain unavailable due to their participation at the Africa Cup of Nations, although Wissa’s DR Congo recently suffered elimination at the hands of Ivory Coast.
Meanwhile, Rico Henry (knee), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Joshua Dasilva (knee), Kevin Schade (groin), and Bryan Mbeumo (ankle) remain in the treatment room. Brentford will line up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Mark Flekken featuring in the goal. The central defensive unit should consist of Nathan Collins, Ben Mee, and Ethan Pinnock.
Mads Roerslev and Sergio Reguilon should be the two wing-backs, with Vitaly Janelt, Mathias Jensen, and Christian Norgaard being the three midfielders. Finally, Ivan Toney and Neal Maupay should be the two strikers for the away side.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Flekken; Collins, Mee, Pinnock; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon; Toney, Maupay
Key Stats
- Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford will meet for the fourth time in the space of 45 days. Gary O’Neil’s won 4-1 in the reverse Premier League fixture and by 3-2 after extra time in an FA Cup replay at the Molineux following a 1-1 draw. Brentford’s solitary victory in the last 11 meetings in all competitions was by 2-0 away in the Premier League in September 2021 (D3 L7).
- Wolverhampton Wanderers have taken 13 points from their last six Premier League games, and their only defeat in nine matches in all competitions came against Manchester United. In addition, they have scored in their most recent 18 Premier League home fixtures since a 1-0 defeat against Gary O’Neil’s Bournemouth on 18 February last year. That is their longest top-flight home scoring streak since a run of 22 from April 1965 to April 1968.
- Brentford have led in 16 of their 22 Premier League matches this season but dropped an unrivalled 26 points. Their last 11 league wins were in London: seven at home, four away. The Bees have taken only two points from ten games outside of the capital since a 2-0 victory away to Southampton 11 months ago.
- Matheus Cunha has been directly involved in 12 goals in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ last 12 league games, scoring seven and setting up five.
- Neal Maupay has scored in all five league and cup appearances in 2024, the longest run of his career in England. That equals the combined number of goals he managed across 64 games in 2022 and 2023.
Player to Watch
Matheus Cunha
The in-demand Ivan Toney was a candidate for this section. But we have gone ahead with Matheus Cunha, who has been exceptional in the 2023/24 season. The Brazilian striker has been arguably the best player for Wolverhampton Wanderers this term.
The 24-year-old bolstered his credentials for the moniker last weekend, as he scored a match-winning hat-trick to help his team beat Chelsea. Cunha will now be eager to build on that phenomenal performance as his stock continues to rise. And it will not be surprising if he finds the back of the net this weekend.
Prediction
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Brentford
Wolverhampton Wanderers are flying high at the moment, and the win over Chelsea will only add to their confidence. With Brentford blowing hot and cold throughout the season, the hosts will feel their chances of continuing their fine run of form are high.
In addition, Gary O’Neil’s men seemingly have Brentford’s number, having beaten the Bees twice this season in three meetings. That should not change on Saturday, even though Ivan Toney will help Brentford’s cause this weekend. The away side should run Wolverhampton Wanderers close, but the home side will likely run out 2-1 winners.