MX23RW : Friday, July 3 17:05:59| >> :120:18017:18017:
Jul 4, 2020 at 3pm UK at Griffin Park
BrentfordBrentford
vs.
WiganWigan Athletic

Preview: Brentford vs. Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship fixture between Brentford and Wigan Athletic, including team news and predicted lineups.

Brentford head into their Championship fixture with Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon having won each of their three fixtures since the resumption.

While Wigan are another of the form teams in the division, the Latics are back in action for the first time since being placed into administration on Wednesday afternoon.


Match preview

Brentford manager Thomas Frank on January 11, 2020© Reuters

Having avoided dropping any points since their return to action, Brentford will now feel that they have genuine hope of claiming one of the two automatic promotion places before the end of the season.

Over the same period, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion have recorded five points fewer than the third-placed team, resulting in Brentford halving the deficit on the latter of those clubs.

Thomas Frank can only have been left impressed with the level of the performances from his players, who now have four successive wins to their name without conceding a goal.

The manner of those results have also ensured that they possess a far superior goal difference to the clubs above them, a potentially-decisive statistic come the end of the campaign.

Although Frank will call on tunnel vision from his players, there will be an awareness that each victory will only intensify the pressure on the shoulders of the division's long-time top two.

After comfortably disposing of Stoke City on Tuesday evening, Wigan created further distance between themselves and the bottom three, realistically leaving the club just one more success from retaining their second-tier status for another 12 months.

However, Wednesday's announcement regarding their administration has left the club as underdogs to remain in the division, effectively putting the Latics in a position where they need to finish 12 points above the bottom three to avoid relegation.

As it stands, eight points is the gap between themselves and 22nd-placed Hull City, and Paul Cook will be optimistic about extending that margin over the final six matches.

That said, from a mental perspective, Wigan's players face the challenge of having to maintain promotion-level form at a time when the club's existence could be at stake, a scenario which they could not have envisaged at the start of the week.

Brentford Championship form: LDWWWW

Wigan Athletic Championship form: WWDWWW


Team News

Barring any late fitness issues, Brentford boss Frank is expected to stick with the same starting lineup.

Although Joel Valencia got himself on the scoresheet at the Madejski Stadium, Bryan Mbeumo will keep his place on the right flank.

Having netted a double against Stoke City on Tuesday evening, Kai Naismith will be recalled to the first XI in place of Michael Jacobs.

Like their hosts, only unforeseen injury problems are likely to lead to Cook making further alterations to his team.

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

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Byrne, Kipre, Balogun, Robinson; Williams, Morsy; Jacobs, Dowell, Lowe; Moore


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We say: Brentford 2-1 Wigan Athletic

Given the turmoil of recent days, it remains to be seen how Wigan's players will react. However, with Brentford having already built momentum over recent games, we expect the Bees to claim another three points.


ID:404697:

Who will win Saturday's Championship clash between Brentford and Wigan Athletic?

Brentford
Draw
Wigan Athletic
Brentford
100.0%
Draw
0.0%
Wigan Athletic
0.0%
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Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates scoring against Reading on June 30, 2020
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds40229960332775
2West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom402014667382974
3Brentford402091170333769
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest401813953401367
5Fulham4019101154441067
6Cardiff CityCardiff40151695751661
7Derby CountyDerby401612125552360
8Swansea CitySwansea401415115047357
9Preston North EndPreston40169155250257
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn401511145550556
11Millwall401317104744356
12Bristol City401510155359-655
13Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds401410164954-552
14Wigan AthleticWigan401311164550-550
15Queens Park RangersQPR40148185966-750
16Reading401310174848049
17Birmingham CityBirmingham401213155163-1249
18Charlton AthleticCharlton401210184654-846
19Hull City40129195468-1445
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield40129194963-1445
21Middlesbrough401014164052-1244
22Stoke CityStoke40127215061-1143
23Barnsley401011194562-1741
24Luton TownLuton40117224673-2740

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