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

Brentford play host to already-promoted Watford with the opportunity to seal third place in the Championship standings ahead of the playoffs.

While the Hornets still have ambitions to win the title, they need to pull off a five-point swing in two games to end the season ahead of leaders Norwich City.

Match preview

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Having put together a 10-match unbeaten streak, there will be those who feel that Brentford are in the ideal mindset to earn Premier League promotion through the playoffs.

However, the Bees continue to find goals difficult to come by, and Thomas Frank will be aware that his side must improve in the final third if they want to join Norwich and their next opponents in the top flight.

On a positive note, successive 1-0 wins over Bournemouth and Rotherham United are a welcome boost for a team which had previously recorded six draws in seven games.

Bryan Mbeumo netted the decisive goals in both fixtures, contributions which were required with top goalscorer Ivan Toney having now netted just once in seven outings.

Brentford head into this contest having gone seven games without defeat at home, their last setback coming against potential playoff opponents Barnsley on February 14.

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With promotion to the Premier League having already been assured, Xisco will be conscious that his players may drop their high standards during the final two matches.

However, Norwich still have to play Reading and Barnsley, and the Spaniard will feel that an unlikely title triumph is still possible if they can prevail at the weekend.

While Watford have gone six games without scoring more than two goals in a match, just two strikes have been conceded during that period.

Their most recent clean sheet came at home to Millwall last weekend in a game which saw Ismaila Sarr net his 13th strike of the season.

Team News

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Having rested a number of players for the game with Rotherham, Frank is expected to make changes to his Brentford XI.

Mathias Jensen, Tarique Fosu-Henry and Marcus Forss could all come back into the team, but Charlie Goode and Mads Bech Sorensen will hope to keep Christian Norgaard out of the back three.

Pontus Jansson sits out this contest as he serves the second of a two-match ban, while Rico Henry and Josh Dasilva are expected to remain on the sidelines.

Xisco is likely to be forced into at least one change with Craig Cathcart replacing the injured Kiko Femenia at right-back.

Nathaniel Chalobah and Philip Zinckernagel are both pushing for recalls in a three-man midfield with Dan Gosling in line to miss out.

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Goode, Pinnock, Sorensen; Rasmussen, Jensen, Janelt, Mbeumo; Fosu-Henry; Toney, Forss

Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Cathcart, Sierralta, Troost-Ekong, Masina; Zinckernagel, Hughes, Cleverley; Sarr, Pedro, Sema

We say: Brentford 1-2 Watford

To a certain degree, there is less pressure on both sides ahead of this contest. However, Watford have the freedom to place more emphasis on attack, leading us to predict a late victory for the visitors.