Leeds vs Brentford Predictions

• Fewer than three goals have been scored in Leeds’ last four league matches
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in six of Brentford’s last nine Premier League outings
• The last two meetings of these clubs have finished 1-1 and 0-0

Leeds looking over their shoulders again

Leeds are looking over their shoulders again after a dismal run of form and need to dig out a positive result when Brentford visit Elland Road on Saturday evening. Of the current bottom six, only Tottenham have worse five-game form than the Whites and Daniel Farke’s side seem to have hit a barren spell in front of goal.

Leeds have failed to score in their last three Premier League games with top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin the biggest culprit. He missed a penalty in last week’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace and wasted a couple of gilt-edged chances in their 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City late last month.

The Yorkshire outfit did find the back of Norwich’s net three times in the FA Cup but recent league results like the 1-0 home defeat to Sunderland, when Calvert-Lewin should have had another chance from the penalty spot, make that competition look increasingly like an unwelcome distraction from the relegation scrap.

Bees bereft of bench brilliance

Brentford will travel north on the back of three consecutive draws in all competitions. The Bees were lucky to avoid defeat at Bournemouth, who hit the woodwork twice and were denied strong penalty claims in a 0-0 south coast draw, and then lost a penalty shootout to West Ham in the cup.

Keith Andrews then saw his side succumb to a Wolves comeback at home on Monday in which his side looked tired and he appeared bereft of ideas and options to change the game. Strong benches come into their own at this stage of the season when fatigue has well and truly set in, but the Bees are short on game changers in reserve.

The seventh-placed Londoners, who could go level on points with Chelsea this weekend, are the fourth-best first-half team in the division but are down in 12th in the second-half standings.

Nmecha nominated as anytime goalscorer value

They continue to outwork their opponents, but there is a clear drop-off in performance after half-time that Andrews must address if they are to stay in the race for European football. Leeds, who are rarely outrun in front of their own fans, could take advantage but it is hard to back them as favourites in their current form.

The total goals market looks one for unders players here because of Calvert-Lewin’s cold patch. Fewer than three goals have been scored in six of Brentford’s last nine Premier League outings and in Leeds’ last four league games.

Lukas Nmecha, who scored a penalty against Chelsea last month when DCL was missing, has got six Premier League goals in eight starts and 15 sub appearances. He could be back on spot-kicks and value to make his mark on Saturday.