Seeking to climb into the top six of the Premier League, European hopefuls Brentford welcome relegation-threatened Leicester City to the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.
While the Bees are looking to extend their unbeaten home run in the top flight to 10 matches, the Foxes are hoping to avoid a third successive away defeat.
Match preview
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Brentford saw their 12-game unbeaten league run come to an end at the hands of Everton last weekend, but they quickly returned to winning ways with a routine 2-0 victory away against basement club Southampton on Wednesday night.
Ivan Toney – who has been called up to Gareth Southgate's latest England squad – increased his top-flight goal tally for the season to 16 with an opening strike just after the half-hour mark before setting up substitute Yoane Wissa in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time to seal Brentford 10th league win of the campaign.
Thomas Frank's men have moved above West London rivals Fulham into eighth place in the Premier League table, and with both Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion not in action this weekend, the Bees can climb into sixth place with a victory over Leicester.
Brentford have enjoyed playing in front of their own fans so far this season as they have accumulated 63.4% of their Premier League points on home soil, winning six, drawing six and losing only one of their 13 matches at the Gtech Community Stadium – a 3-0 defeat to leaders Arsenal the only blot on their copybook.
However, success on Saturday is not a given as they have failed to win any of their previous three Premier League meetings against Leicester, although they did come from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Foxes at the King Power Stadium back in August, with Josh Dasilva netting an 86th-minute equaliser.
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Leicester appeared to have turned a corner earlier this year after winning three successive games in all competitions, including a 4-1 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur. However, a miserable run of five straight defeats has since followed, piling the pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers.
After suffering a disappointing 1-0 loss at Southampton, the Foxes were beaten 3-1 at home against Chelsea last weekend. Patson Daka cancelled out an opener from former Leicester man Ben Chilwell, but the West Londoners regained the lead on the stroke of half time through Kai Havertz before Mateo Kovacic added a third after the break to condemn the hosts to their 16th league defeat of the campaign.
A run of five successive top-10 finishes in the Premier League is all but certain to come to an end this season, with Leicester embroiled in one of the tightest relegation battles in years, sitting 16th in the table and just above the bottom three on goal difference.
Leicester have picked up as many points on home soil as they have on the road (12) so far this season, although suffering nine top-flight away defeats in 13 games is a cause for concern. The Foxes have won only three of their last eight away matches in all competitions since the end of December, with two of those victories against League Two opposition in the FA Cup.
However, Rodgers and co can head to the Gtech Community Stadium with optimism as they are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings against Brentford, including a 2-1 away win last season.
Team News
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Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt was taken off on the stroke of half time against Southampton with a knee injury and will subsequently miss Saturday's game, while Kristoffer Ajer has picked up a calf problem and is also unavailable for selection.
The Bees duo will join Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) and Thomas Strakosha (ankle) in the treatment room, while Mads Roerslev will be assessed ahead of kickoff after missing the win at St Mary's with a minor hamstring problem.
The absence of Janelt will likely see either Frank Onyeka or Josh Dasilva take his place in the starting lineup, joining Mathias Jensen and Christian Norgaard in centre-midfield.
As for Leicester, Victor Kristensen (ankle), James Justin (Achilles), Youri Tielemans (ankle) and Ryan Bertrand (knee) all remain sidelined through injury, while Wout Faes will serve a one-match suspension following his dismissal last weekend.
Jonny Evans is doubtful after suffering a setback in his recovery from a thigh problem, so Daniel Amartey could partner Harry Souttar at centre-back, with Rodgers likely to revert to a four-man defence after starting with three at the back against Chelsea.
Harvey Barnes is expected to be recalled to start on the left flank, while Tete, Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy will also be looking to force their way back into the first XI as Rodgers ponders changes following a poor run of form.
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Hickey, Pinnock, Mee, Henry; Jensen, Norgaard, Onyeka; Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Ward; Pereira, Amartey, Souttar, Castagne; Dewsbury-Hall, Mendy; Tete, Maddison, Barnes; Iheanacho
We say: Brentford 2-1 Leicester City
The momentum is with Brentford heading into Saturday's contest and Frank's men will be regarded as favourites to come out on top considering the form of both sides.
Leicester will be desperate to turn their fortunes around and enter the international break on a high by claiming a morale-boosting victory in the capital, but we believe that the Bees will put a sting in the tail of the Foxes and secure maximum points on home soil.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
