Aiming to sneak into a potential Conference League spot, Brentford travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the Premier League season.
Wolves were defeated at the home of Crystal Palace earlier in the week, whereas the Bees are looking to respond following a loss to West London rivals Fulham last time out.
Match preview
© Imago
After a sensational run of six straight wins in the Premier League between the middle of March and the end of April, Wolves’ form has fallen off a cliff as the top-flight campaign reaches its conclusion, with the Black Country outfit failing to collect a single point from three matches in May so far.
The latest defeat for the Wanderers arrived at the jubilant base of FA Cup winners Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, when a brace from Eddie Nketiah, alongside strikes from Ben Chilwell and Wembley hero Eberechi Eze, secured a comfortable 4-2 success for the Europa League-bound Eagles.
Finding the net during the second half at Selhurst Park earlier in the week, Jorgen Strand Larsen continues to shine for the Molineux club despite their recent struggles, with the towering Norwegian scoring 14 Premier League goals this season – bagging seven strikes since the beginning of March.
Vitor Pereira‘s men rank a lowly 16th in the division based on points collected at home, however Wolves have been impressive at their Black Country base in recent times, winning three of their last four matches at the venue, including a clash with European champions Tottenham Hotspur last month.
One goal ahead of Strand Larsen in the club’s Golden Boot race, Matheus Cunha is set to wave goodbye to Molineux on Sunday afternoon, with the Brazil international preparing for a move away this summer as the likes of Manchester United swoop for his highly-rated services.
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Whilst Wolves only have pride to play for in the West Midlands this weekend, Brentford are still in with a shout of achieving something remarkable this season, with Sunday afternoon’s visitors potentially earning a Conference League spot should they beat Pereira’s men on matchday 38.
The Bees are currently occupying ninth place in the Premier League table and would move up to eighth if maximum points at Molineux are paired with a Brighton & Hove Albion defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where you imagine that the hosts will be enjoying their biggest party in 17 years.
After an impressive run of four consecutive top flight victories, Brentford’s top-eight fate went out of their own hands last Sunday afternoon, when second-half strikes from Tom Cairney and Harry Wilson sealed a 3-2 win at the Gtech Community Stadium for London neighbours Fulham.
Both making the net ripple versus the Cottagers last time out, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa moved up to 19 top-flight goals each, with the Brentford duo looking to become the first pair to net 20+ goals in a Premier League season for a single club since Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in 2018-19.
Thomas Frank‘s troops should be confident of picking up a positive result at Molineux this weekend, especially when considering their recent away form, with Brentford earning seven points across three outings at Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town.
Team News
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Wolves are sweating over the fitness of in-form striker Strand Larsen, who went down with a knock during the defeat at Crystal Palace on Tuesday night.
As a result of the Norwegian’s problems, Hwang Hee-Chan could be drafted in by head coach Pereira to lead the line for the hosts this weekend.
Both Sam Johnstone and Tommy Doyle remain frozen out of the first-team picture, with the later recently picking up a knock which is keeping him from participating in training.
The Wanderers remain without the services of long-term absentees Enso Gonzalez (knee) and Leon Chiwome (knee) ahead of Sunday’s season finale.
In a major bit of positive fitness news for Brentford, head coach Frank has revealed that defender Aaron Hickey is set to feature in a matchday squad for the first time in 18 months.
The Scotsman is back in contention after suffering a serious hamstring injury in October 2023, although Keane Lewis-Potter is expected to start at left-back once again.
Bees veteran Ben Mee played his final match for the club versus Fulham last weekend, with the centre-back not part of the first-team plans for Sunday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Bentley; Semedo, Agbadou, T Gomes; R Gomes, Bellegarde, J Gomes, Ait Nouri; Sarabia, Guedes, Strand Larsen
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Yarmolyuk, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-3 Brentford
Requiring a victory to have any chance of making the Conference League, Brentford should pull out all the stops at Molineux on Sunday in search of three points.
With nothing tangible to play for, Wolves are likely to take their foot off the gas, allowing the Bees’ menacing forwards to wreak havoc in the Black Country.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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