Brentford meet Sunderland in a huge Premier League clash in the race for European qualification.
Locked on 30 points apiece, victory could lift either Brentford or Sunderland as high as fifth if Chelsea and Manchester United both fail to win elsewhere.
Team News
Brentford have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 4-2 victory at Everton.
Dango Ouattara, Frank Onyeka (both international duty), Fabio Carvalho, Josh Dasilva and Antoni Milambo (all ACL) remain sidelined.
Sunderland could be without Wilson Isidor after he missed their 1-1 draw at Tottenham due to a minor injury.
Reinildo could feature if he is fit enough for an immediate return after Mozambique’s exit at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Habib Diarra, Bertrand Traore, Chemsdine Talbi (international duty) and Aji Alese (shoulder) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Brentford host Sunderland at Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday 7 January at 7:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Tennis in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Brentford lost their only previous Premier League meeting against Sunderland by a 2-1 result earlier this season away on Wearside.
- Sunderland are making their first trip to Brentford’s current home – Gtech Community Stadium, but have won just one of their last five away games against the Bees in all competitions (W1, D2, L2).
- Both teams have scored in four of their last five meetings in West London except for a 1-0 win to Sunderland in August 1987 in the Old Third Division.
- Brentford haven’t lost a home game this season in which Igor Thiago scored at least one goal (W4), with seven of the Brazilian’s 11 league goals having been scored at home.
- Sunderland have lost one of their last eight league games (W2, D5, L1).
Prediction
Currently locked on 30 points apiece and separated by a goal difference of just two, this is a massive game for both Brentford and Sunderland because a win coupled with results elsewhere in their favour could put them right in the mix for Champions League qualification and up to fifth.
Brentford though have produced more goals than the Black Cats after a dominant display at Everton where they looked dangerous across the pitch, especially in their press and the intensity of their forward movement so confidence will be high particularly with Thiago in hot form.
Sunderland however are a well-drilled team defensively when not on the attacking foot and are in strong form so I expect them to pose huge issues for Brentford, so this might well be a cagey but exciting game if the Bees dominate attack but the Black Cats soak up the pressure.
A draw therefore feels like a fair call as there isn’t much to separate these teams other than Brentford’s better goalscoring record.
Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Sunderland
Result: Brentford 3-0 Sunderland