[Albion] Brentford vs Brighton & Hove Albion *** Official Match Thread ***

[Dick Head]

Brentford v Albion

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: Gtech Community Stadium
Date: Wednesday 3rd April 2024
Kick-off: 19:30 BST
Referee: Andy Madley
Assistants: Nick Hopton, Akil Howson
Fourth Official: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Michael Oliver
Additional VAR: Wade Smith
​

TEAM NEWS

Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo could start for the first time since sustaining an ankle injury during the reverse fixture in December.

Sergio Reguilon is available after a ban but Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock and Rico Henry remain long-term absentees.

Brighton top scorer Joao Pedro and Julio Enciso return to the squad after injury.

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi is hopeful at least one of them will be fit to start on Wednesday.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Brentford's only win in the past five Premier League meetings was by 2-0 at home in October 2022, with Ivan Toney scoring twice.
• Brighton have lost nine of their last 17 away league matches with the Bees.
• In the reverse fixture, Brighton won 2-1 with goals from Pascal Gross and Jack Hinshelwood.

Brentford

• Brentford have won three of their last 19 Premier League games, losing 14.
• Thomas Frank's side have dropped a league-high 28 points from winning positions this season.
• They are winless in their last four Premier League home matches (D2, L2).
• The Bees have conceded in seven successive league fixtures.
• Ivan Toney has scored three goals in his past two top-flight games against Brighton. However, he has gone six league appearances without a goal.

Albion

• Roberto De Zerbi's side could lose five away matches in a row across all competitions for the first time since 2006.
• Brighton are winless in six away games with London clubs this season.
• They have failed to score in all three evening fixtures this season, against Luton Town, West Ham, and Wolves.
• Danny Welbeck's four league goals this season have all come away. He could become the third Brighton player to score in three consecutive away matches in the top flight, emulating Leandro Trossard and Deniz Undav.
• Evan Ferguson has failed to score in 23 appearances for club and country since his goal in Brighton's 3-2 league win at Nottingham Forest on 25 November.
• Pascal Gross has provided 11 Premier League assists in London matches; only Ryan Giggs (29), Steven Gerrard (14) and Emile Heskey (12) have more.

Roberto De Zerbi's Brentford Press Conference

 

[um bongo molongo]

Were drawer

 

[jcdenton08]

Through to the next round here lads, no excuses.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Let's beat benham's boys and turn the corner guys. Nervy 2-1 hopefully

 

[saafend_seagull]

Bart, lamptey, jpvh, dunk, estupinian, baleba, gross, fati, facundo, adingra, Pedro - please…

Anything less than 3 points = top8 over given our run in

 

[Insel affe]

Setting off in half an hour, see you all at Griffen Park, let’s hope we can bag a win and all two points.

 

[BadFish]

1-1

 

[Garyoldfan]

A couple of good results last night (West Ham and Newcastle) have made this game a bit tastier for me. A win and I start dreaming of playing a Bulgarian part time team next season in Europe and the good chance of a trophy. Lose and I’ll go overboard about something then regret it within 24 hours. The choice is yours lads

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

It's got nil-all written all over it

 

[jcdenton08]

A couple of good results last night (West Ham and Newcastle) have made this game a bit tastier for me. A win and I start dreaming of playing a Bulgarian part time team next season in Europe and the good chance of a trophy. Lose and I’ll go overboard about something then regret it within 24 hours. The choice is yours lads

Gary, knowing you plan on doing this, could you not take precautions to prevent it from happening? Seems a waste to get upset knowing you’ll calm down within a day. Don’t bother and save yourself the stress?

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Need to win this one to keep the European dream alive.
A Draw not the end of the world, obviously, but it would be nice to take charge of the situation.

 

[Auckland seagull]

Reading their forum, they really don't like us. Not sure why really. I find them a bit meh. They are one of the few current premier league teams that have been consistently lower down the league than the Albion during my 60 years of following football.

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited

 

[amexer]

Hope Bloom was able to get his seat behind the goal

 

[HCxUK]

Reading their forum, they really don't like us. Not sure why really. I find them a bit meh. They are one of the few current premier league teams that have been consistently lower down the league than the Albion during my 60 years of following football.

Just had a quick look, they fancy their chances tonight. I didn't realise just quite how bad our away form is....

6 points from the last 10 games, with our only win coming at Sheffield United.

Strange one tonight as I do feel quite positive about our chances of finishing the season well, but am completely dreading coming up against Brentford (mainly Toney). Think we will do well not to lose.

 

[Is it PotG?]

Hope Bloom was able to get his seat behind the goal

Oh no, he's Tier 2, in the binfest with all the others at 9am

 

[Change at Barnham]

Brentford absolutely battered Manchester United and should have won comfortably, it was a very impressive attacking performance.
I am trying to convince myself that this was due to the way United approached the game rather than Brentford suddenly appearing to play like Real Madrid.
Hopefully RDZ sets our team up in a way to nullify Brentford's attacking threat and to put them on the back foot.

If ever a fast start was needed it is tonight. I will be very surprised if our xG ends tonight higher than theirs.

Just shoot baby! Expect a 5 goal thriller.

 

[Insel affe]

I see Brentford much in the same way I used to see Orient, a pesky little fly that won't feckin leave you alone, it keeps buzzing around in winter when it should be dead.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

This next game could be season-defining.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

After a good display last Sunday with no reward , we ought to feel good about this one . Having Pedro on the bench is a bonus. Come on lads , let’s do this !