2020-21 Sky Bet Championship: Week 29 – Sunday

Brentford welcome Barnsley to Brentford Community Stadium in a Super Sunday encounter from the Sky Bet Championship. 

Victory will put Brentford back on top of the Championship, whereas Barnsley can realistically go as high as tenth with a win.

 

Team News

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Brentford have no fresh injury concerns to report after Wednesday’s comeback 3-1 win at Reading.

Christian Norgaard, Pontus Jansson (both ankle), Emiliano Marcondes, Luka Racic (both back) and Shandon Baptiste (knee) remain absent.

Barnsley could welcome Aapo Halme back from a toe injury after he was deemed unfit for Thursday’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Chelsea.

Liam Kitching (groin) and Ben Williams (knee) are still sidelined.

 

Stat Attack

• Brentford have taken eight points from their last seven league meetings against Barnsley in the Championship (W2, D2, L3).
• Barnsley are unbeaten in three Championship trips to Brentford (W2, D1), although this is their first trip to the Brentford Community Stadium.
• Four of Brentford’s last five goals in this fixture have come from strikers, with Ollie Watkins netting three goals at Oakwell last season then Ivan Toney scored the Bees’ winner in later November.
• Brentford have kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 league games.
• Barnsley have lost just one of eight league matches in which Cauley Woodrow has scored this season (W5, D2, L1).

 

Prediction

Brentford are currently flying and entered this weekend sat top of the pile on a 21 league game unbeaten run, which is just superb with Ivan Toney in particularly in deadly form to provide Barnsley with a headache in terms of how to silence him.

Barnsley put in a strong FA Cup performance against Chelsea in midweek despite failing to play for almost two weeks prior to that match, although their high pressure game might well suit Brentford if the Bees can soak up attacks and hit the Tykes on quick counter-attacks.

We however can’t ignore Barnsley’s recent poor league form since new year and fitness could well come into play, which coupled with Brentford’s form makes me feel that this will be a home win with the Tykes lucky to nick a goal given their away form in this fixture.

Prediction: Brentford 3-1 Barnsley

Result: Brentford 0-2 Barnsley