2019-20 FA Cup: Fourth Round – Saturday

Leicester City face a tough test in their quest for this season’s FA Cup as they visit Championship high-flyers, Brentford at Griffin Park. 

With 111 goals amassed between these teams in all competitions this season, this promises to be a difficult battle between two of the best attacking teams in English Football this season outside the ‘Big Six’. 

 

Team news

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Brentford will be without winger, Said Benrahma for personal reasons but he could return on Tuesday against Nottingham Forest. 

Nikos Karelis, Sergi Canos (both knee) Mathias Jensen, Marcus Forss (both hamstring)  and Pontus Jansson (hip) all remain ruled out. 

Leicester will be without Jamie Vardy after he suffered a glute injury during Wednesday’s win over West Ham.

Nampalys Mendy is also absent after suffering a knee injury during the midweek win, which saw him substituted after just 34 minutes. 

Matty James (fitness) and Daniel Amartey (ankle) are both definitely ruled out. 

 

Stat Attack

• Brentford are winless in five previous FA Cup meetings against Leicester City (D2, L3), although both draws came in Fourth Round of 1946-47 season finishing 0-0 before Leicester won a second replay 4-1.
• Leicester kept clean sheets in two previous FA Cup trips to Brentford (W1, D1).
• Brentford have scored in four of their last five FA Cup home games, with the only exception coming in a 1-0 defeat by Notts County in January 2018 in Third Round.
• Leicester have progressed to the Fifth Round in three of their last five seasons.
• Brentford have avoided defeat in just one of their last six matches against Leicester in all competitions (D1, L5).

 

Prediction

I am excited for this match because it pits two brilliant attacking teams against each other in one of the toughest places to visit in West London. 

Leicester were clinical in midweek against West Ham with their pressing and high energy, which are qualities that Brentford tend to maximise at home, which makes this even tougher to call as Benrahma’s absence will definitely be felt amongst the Bees. 

I therefore am going for a draw here because there isn’t much to separate these two teams in my eyes, and the various absentees won’t help either teams on top of squad rotation. 

Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Leicester

Result: Brentford 0-1 Leicester