2021-22 Premier League: Week 32 – Brentford vs West Ham

Brentford welcome top-four chasing West Ham to Brentford Community Stadium in a cross-London derby clash.

Victory would see Thomas Frank’s Bees climb to 13th in the table, whereas West Ham can go fifth with a win.

 

Team News

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Frank Onyeka is ruled out for Brentford with an ankle injury he suffered on international duty for Nigeria last month, which caused him to miss last weekend’s win at Chelsea.

Josh Dasilva (hamstring) and Julien Jeanvier (knee) are also absent.

West Ham could welcome Manuel Lanzini back into contention after he missed their last two matches, following a car crash en route to the Hammers’ training ground during the international break.

Angelo Ogbonna remains absent with a knee injury.

 

Stat Attack

• Brentford won their only previous Premier League meeting against West Ham in October 2021, prevailing 2-1 in East London.
• West Ham are visiting Brentford Community Stadium for the very first time but have lost just one of their last eight away matches against Brentford (W2, D5, L1).
• Brentford have kept only four clean sheets in 17 meetings across all competitions since the end of WWII (W5, D7, L5)
• No English player in the Premier League this season has been caught offside on more occasions than Brentford’s Ivan Toney (24).
• West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has had the second highest number of shots on target this season (30) for a English player, only Tottenham’s Harry Kane (41) has converted more shots onto target.

 

Prediction

After ruthlessly dismantling Chelsea in their West-London derby clash last week with excellent counter attacking intensity and pressing, Brentford just need to be more clinical across the match but can come into this match buoyed by that huge morale-boosting result.

West Ham meanwhile will certainly have one eye on their return leg at Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday evening, so I am expecting changes but their aggressive pressing style retained because it has served them well in their last two matches.

David Moyes’ Hammers though really need a win here to keep apace with the top-four battle but this match feels like a potential banana skin, although this nevertheless should be a tightly fought entertaining battle but Brentford might have the edge if fitness comes into play for West Ham.

Prediction: Brentford 2-1 West Ham

Result: Brentford 2-0 West Ham