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Attendance: 12,221
Brentford logo
FA Cup | Fourth Round
Jan 25, 2020 at 12.45pm UK
 
Leicester logo

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FT(HT: 0-1)

Preview: Brentford vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole provides team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie between Brentford and Leicester City.

Leicester City make the trip to Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round looking to maintain their quest of winning the two domestic cup competitions this season.

Meanwhile, Brentford will play host to the Premier League high-flyers on Saturday afternoon sitting in fifth place in the Championship standings.


Match preview

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers pictured on December 8, 2019© Reuters

Ahead of Wednesday's top-flight meeting with West Ham United, Brendan Rodgers would have been aware that the pressure was growing on his side after their failure to defeat Aston Villa, Southampton and Burnley respectively.

However, the Foxes proved during the opening 45 minutes against the Hammers that they had rediscovered the confidence and swagger which have kept them in the top four of the Premier League table for much of this season.

With injuries being sustained to Jamie Vardy and Nampalys Mendy, the evening did not go perfectly for the Foxes, but a dominant 4-1 victory resulted in the club ending the night with a 14-point advantage over fifth-placed Manchester United.

Rodgers and his squad now have the welcome distraction of the FA Cup and EFL Cup, with the latter perhaps taking priority given that they are just one win away from a place in next month's final.

Nevertheless, despite the prospect of mass changes being made on Saturday lunchtime, Rodgers will want his fringe players to give him a reason to stop him entering the transfer market before the end of the month.

As far as Brentford are concerned, prolonging their interest in the FA Cup will divide opinion among their fanbase as they bid to remain in the Championship promotion hunt.

That said, this is an ideal opportunity for Thomas Frank's developing squad to test themselves against one of the best teams in the country in front of their own supporters.

While Frank will be expected to field a starting lineup which is stronger than the one from the narrow win over Stoke City in round three, the club's priorities are elsewhere with a huge showdown with Nottingham Forest coming up on Tuesday night.

With the pressure off, that could play into the London outfit's favour, and whomever takes to the pitch at the weekend in front of the television cameras will want to showcase why Brentford are genuine contenders to earn a spot in next season's Premier League.

Brentford FA Cup form form: W
Brentford form (all competitions): WLWWWD

Leicester City FA Cup competition form: W
Leicester City form (all competitions): WWDLLW


Team News

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy holds his injured glutes on January 22, 2020© Reuters

Despite Vardy missing out due to a glute injury, Kelechi Iheanacho may be left out of the side ahead of the meeting with Villa next week.

That could see Demarai Gray come into the attack, supported by the likes of Ayoze Perez and Harvey Barnes, while Hamza Choudhury is expected back in midfield.

Rodgers should also make a clean sweep of changes to his backline, handing rare starts to James Justin, Filip Benkovic and Wes Morgan.

With Tuesday in mind, Frank will make alterations, with Emiliano Marcondes likely being given the chance to build on his winner against Stoke in the last round.

However, experienced players such as Ethan Pinnock and Christian Norgaard could remain in the starting lineup.

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Daniels; Racic, Jeanvier, Pinnock, Rasmussen; Marcondes, Yearwood, Norgaard; Marcondes, Castillo, Mbeumo

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Ward; Justin, Morgan, Benkovic, Fuchs; Choudhury, Praet; Albrighton, Perez, Barnes; Gray


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Brentford 1-2 Leicester City

Despite the likelihood of changes being made, Leicester remain favourites here, and we expect the Foxes to grind out a hard-fought success against the Bees, who may make it difficult for the visitors during the opening hour of the contest.



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Leicester striker Jamie Vardy holds his injured glutes on January 22, 2020
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