Premier League: Wolves Can Feast on the Winded Bees

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford

Tenth faces 15th in a Molinuex rumble on Saturday when Premier League: Wolves vs Brentford is the box office draw in the Black Country.

The two teams are heading in opposite directions at the moment, as Gary O’Neil’s Wolverhampton Wanderers have climbed into the top half of the table thanks to an impressive win over Chelsea on Sunday. Meanwhile, Thomas Frank’s Brentford lost to Manchester City on Monday, a result that left the Bees just three points above the drop zone.

The two teams have met three times over the past two months, and Wolves are yet to lose, and the pre-match Premier League 2024 betting odds can’t see a change in fortunes next Saturday.

Talking Points

Cunha is just getting better

The absence of Wolves’ star striker Hwang Hee-Chan, away at the Asian Cup with South Korea, has put the spotlight on Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha and, boy, does he love it. Both Chelsea and Wolves were looking to get into the top half mix when they met on Sunday and it was O’Neil’s men who came out on top with a compact and patient display, with the added threat of Cunha’s lethal streak.

After the Blues had gone ahead through Cole Palmer, Wolves hit back immediately when Cunha’s deflected shot beat Dorde Petrovic in the Chelsea goal. Axel Disasi put through his own net to give Wolves a lead, and then Cunha took the game away from the beleaguered Blues.

Pedro Neta left Thiago Silva standing before squaring for Cunha’s second and Wolves’ third, and when Maio Gusto clattered into Wolves’ red-hot striker, the referee pointed to the penalty spot and he was coolness personified as he fired the penalty home.  

Cunha has moved up the list of Premier League top scorers, into 11^th place, with nine goals and six assists and when Hwang returns the pair will be a real handful for opposition defences, and with the brilliant Pedro Neto, with eight assists, and Pablo Sarabia on five there is no shortage of supply for the upwardly mobile Wolves.

The Bees are looking forward…but the view is daunting

After losing to Manchester City, Brentford’s excellent and ever-positive manager, Thomas Frank, said his team was looking forward to their next game rather than over their shoulders.

But they have one heck of a run coming up with games against Liverpool, Manchester City again, West Ham United, Chelsea, and Arsenal after their trip to Molineux. If they fail to pick up a win from that daunting fixture list, they will be right in the relegation mix.  

Brentford’s Monday night date with the Sky Blues was always going to be an uphill battle but they attacked the game with gusto, Neal Maupay giving them a surprise lead; but the champions were relentless, raining in 25 shots and 15 on target on Mark Flekken’s goal and only a series of spectacular saves kept his team in it, until Phil Foden scored his third, midway through the second half.    

While they were on the back foot for much of the game the Bees do have an attacking threat. Try to keep star striker Ivan Toney out of the Premier League 2024 highlights. He scored two goals in his first two games back after suspension and is desperate to keep his team away from trouble.

With top scorer Bryan Mbeumo out injured, the onus is on Toney, and he has the tools to deliver with his pace, strength, and usually lethal finishing.

But I suspect the Bees will be under the cosh again on Saturday, and defenders Ethan Pinnock and the experienced Ben Mee are sure to have a busy afternoon as they try to protect Flekken from another onslaught. 

History

These two teams have met 17 times over the past ten years, and Wolves have the edge, with nine wins to Brentford’s four, and there have been four draws. This season, Wolves have beaten the Bees twice already; they won 4-1 in the league match at the Gtech Community Stadium in December and then beat Frank’s boys again in an FA Cup third round replay.

In terms of recent form, Wolves are stronger too, with four wins, one draw, and one defeat over the past six league games, while their visitors have won one and lost five, and Brentford have lost six away games on the bounce.

Betting Tip

This is not a foregone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination, with Brentford at SBOTOP odds of 3.13 and the draw at 3.21, with the Double Chance, Brentford of Draw at 1.66.

But I think the rampant Wolves can continue their charge against a team which struggles on the road, and I can see plenty of goalmouth action, with Over 2.50 goals an alternative bet at odds of 1.89.

 

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