Brentford vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
As this week’s Premier League matches go, Brentford versus Wolves may not capture the attention like some others. It’s easy to understand why too, given it’s a meeting between the teams placed 14th and 12th in the table.
Yet that partly misses the point as here are two clubs who have managed to stay ahead of the curve, and their much wealthier counterparts, to establish themselves in the top-flight.
Their combined collection of Premier League 2023 highlights may be slightly fewer than in recent seasons, but they are more than holding their own and you would not bet on either getting sucked into a relegation fight in the second half of the campaign.
Talking Points
Now, after the praise, a warning. It’s hardly time to worry but the Bees could do with taking something from what is their last home outing of 2023.
That is because, after losing just three of their opening 11 league games this season, they have lost five of their past six.
That included last time out at home to Aston Villa when they led until the dismissal of Ben Mee, after which they went down to a 2-1 defeat.
As a result, the reliable defender will be suspended for this one and two further matches.
Frank Onyeka is also ruled out after accumulating five yellow cards, meaning the Bees could be without 10 players through suspension or injury.
Manager Thomas Frank has worked wonders since taking charge at Brentford in 2018.
The club has been in transition for a few years – from Championship to top tier, from Griffin Park to Gtech Community Stadium, from tiki-taka style to a more counterattacking high press – and a period of stability will do just fine. Keeping hold of Frank, who was linked with Spurs in the summer but spoke of moving towards Brentford 2.0, is key to that.
He will be very aware they have dropped 17 points from winning positions so far this term, more than any other top-flight side, a statistic that needs addressing.
The situation is slightly healthier for Wolves, fresh from a Christmas Eve triumph over Chelsea.
They may need to assess their own influential defender in Craig Dawson, who was forced off during that victory with a cut knee.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Boubacar Traore, and Fabio Silva are all doubtful because of illness.
On a brighter note, Pedro Neto, who has been sidelined since October with a hamstring strain, is nearing a return and could come into contention.
I felt that the decision between the club and Julen Lopetegui to part company a few weeks before this campaign began could really damage Wolves.
To his credit, successor Gary O’Neill is proving his doubters wrong, just as he did at Bournemouth last season.
He has seen his team on the receiving end of a number of VAR controversies this term. Perhaps he is due a change of fortune as a new year approaches.
On saying that, Brentford may well feel the same.
With the teams also set to meet in a third round FA Cup encounter, this could be the start of an interesting 10-day period for both clubs.
History
Brentford’s only victory in their past eight league games (D2, L5) against Wolves was a 2-0 success at Molineux in September 2021.
Indeed, the Bees have failed to beat Wolves at home in each of their previous four home league fixtures.
This clash last season ended 1-1 when Mee’s opener was cancelled out within two minutes by Ruben Neves.
Wolves won the return fixture 2-0 in the Black Country as Diego Costa and Hwang Hee-Chan netted in each half.
Brentford last defeated Wolves at home in 2016 when both clubs were in the Championship. On that occasion, they ran out 3-0 home victors, courtesy of John Swift (two) and Sergi Canos.
Overall, Brentford have tasted success 12 times, Wolves 15, and there have been four draws.
Their inaugural meeting came in the former Division One in 1935 when Wolves emerged 3-2 winners.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP Premier League 2023 betting odds edge towards the Bees, who are priced 1X2 @ 1.93 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.31.
Wolves, meanwhile, are priced a little adrift of that, both 1X2 @ 3.56 and Asian Handicap + 0.25 @ 2.20.
The draw, just like the corresponding meeting last season, is available @ 3.30 with another 1-1 draw available @ 6.40 with Correct Score.
That Brentford have had 10 days without a game could be seen as an advantage or a disadvantage, but I actually feel it will mean they are fresher and, in the midst of a busy programme, it could give them the edge.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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