Brentford vs Watford Predictions

• Brentford beat Everton in their last home game and beat Watford in the corresponding fixture last season.
• The Hornets have lost their last three, but have scored in each of their last four.
• Brentford have kept just one clean sheet in seven games since Alvaro Fernandez replaced David Raya in goal.
• Yoane Wissa has two goals in just 98 minutes of Premier League football and could be in line for his first league start.

Promoted pair meet on Friday

Brentford have found a bit of form of late with five points from their last four games and they will be looking to put a bit of distance between themselves and a key rival by taking all three points when Watford visit in the Premier League on Friday evening.

The Hornets have found life back in the top flight tougher than their hosts and they go into the game just three points above the drop zone after a run of three straight defeats.

Both sides will see this as a crucial game in terms of their respective survival hopes, but home advantage may prove the difference here.

Back the Bees to win high-scoring affair

Brentford took four points from their two games against Watford in the Championship last season and won the corresponding fixture 2-0 in May. I’m expecting Brentford to come out on top on Friday but there may well be goals at both ends, and this looks like a perfect game to be bold and back a home win with both teams to score.

Thomas Frank’s men have actually been better on their travels this season with 10 of their 17 points so far coming on the road. However, they did claim a 1-0 win over Everton in their last game at the Brentford Community Stadium and can record back-to-back home wins by seeing off poor travellers Watford.

The Hornets have lost five of their seven trips so far and have five defeats in their last six overall. Claudio Ranieri’s men have scored in their last three defeats and have 20 goals in 15 games so far – more than Arsenal, Tottenham and any other team in the bottom nine – so they should be able to find a way through against a Brentford side who struggle for clean sheets.

The hosts have just two shut-outs in the league and have managed just one in their last seven games since Alvaro Fernandez replaced the injured David Raya in goal. Brentford are also missing defender Kristoffer Ajer and with two key men at the back out it seems reasonable to suggest Watford will at least score, but their poor away record still suggests they will leave West London empty handed. Watford have conceded eight goals in total across their last four games and as Brentford have scored exactly two goals in three of their four league wins a 2-1 win for the Bees is the correct score selection.

No Toney for Brentford

Brentford are without Ivan Toney after he tested positive for coronavirus and Sergi Canos is suspended, but they have plenty of players capable of grabbing a goal. With Toney and Canos out boss Frank could hand Yoane Wissa a first start of the season and he stands out as a potential scorer. Wissa has two goals in his seven Premier League outings this season despite playing for just 98 minutes in total and has five goals in nine appearances in all competitions.

Brentford predicted lineup: Fernandez, Goode, Jansson, Pinnock, Rasmussen, Baptiste, Norgaard, Janelt, Henry, Mbuemo, Wissa

Watford predicted lineup: Bachmann, Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Rose, Dennis, Cleverley, Kucka, Sissoko, Pedro, King

• Watford have lost and both teams have scored in their last three Premier League matches
• Watford’s last four games in the Premier League have finished with three or more goals

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