Preview: Brentford vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

Brentford host Fulham in a Championship London derby on Saturday as both sides look to gain three points to boost their playoff ambitions.

Both teams have been in patchy form of late, with two losses apiece in their last four games, and will be hoping to generate some momentum with a positive result.

Match preview

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Brentford are just outside the Championship playoff places in seventh, but only two points separate them from third-placed Fulham.

The Bees won their last match 2-1 against Cardiff City at home to register their fourth win in six games, losing the other two.

Among those four victories was an astonishing 7-0 thumping of newly-promoted Luton Town, a game which contributed over 21% of their goals-scored tally so far.

Brentford also, surprisingly, boast the joint-second best defensive record in the division, conceding just 17 times in 21 games - level with Nottingham Forest and behind Leeds United.

It looks to be a tough task for Fulham, who have let their grip on third place slip as they succumbed to back-to-back defeats.

The Cottagers were beaten 2-1 by Bristol City at home and Preston North End away - the latter an ill-tempered game that saw one red card apiece in the first half.

The pair of losses come off the back of a four-game winning run and Scott Parker will be looking to get his side back into their groove for fear of slipping out of the hotly-contested playoff places.

Just four points separate 12th-placed Queens Park Rangers from Fulham in third, and any hint of complacency or a slump in form is easily punished by the waiting pack in this division.

Brentford Championship form: WWLWLW

Fulham Championship form: WWWWLL

Team News

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Brentford boss Thomas Frank has just a couple of long-term absentees to deal with, but no fresh injury concerns.

Sergi Canos is stepping up his return from injury, but Nikolaos Karelis is still a long way from a comeback.

For Fulham, head coach Parker is without the suspended Denis Odoi after his sending-off against Preston.

Harry Arter, Maxime Le Marchand and Bobby Reid are all out of action as well with injuries.

However, there are no new injuries for the Fulham manager to contend with.

Brentford possible starting lineup: Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry; Jensen, Norgaard, Dasilva; Mbeumo, Watkins, Benrahma

Fulham possible starting lineup: Rodak; Christie, Mawson, Ream, Bryan; Knockaert, Onomah, Johansen, Cavaleiro; Kamara, Mitrovic

© Sports Mole / SM

We say: Brentford 1-1 Fulham

Even Brentford's strong defensive record may not be enough to keep Aleksandar Mitrovic from scoring, but both these sides are in similar form and the Bees certainly have enough to trouble a shaky Fulham back line at the other end. This one could end in stalemate.