Busy Foxes schedule to boost Bees' upset attempt
In a busy week for Brendan Rodgers’ misfiring Foxes, the first of back to back cup encounters takes place in the Saturday early FA Cup fourth round kickoff at Griffin Park. They take on Thomas Frank’s Brentfordwho are sat in fourth place as one of the form teams in the division, maintaining outstanding home form pushing them on to chase down front runners West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United in the race for automatic promotion to the promise land. Three days in between a Premier League outing and the Carabao Cup semi final second leg, this fixture could be of the lowest priority for Leicester City and in that open the door for the Beesto sting an upset.
BMW
Arguably the best front three outside Europe’s top five leagues, Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins have defied description in their class performances so far this season. Following the departure of Neal Maupayto Brighton & Hove Albion, Watkins has moved to the no. 9 position rather than out wide and the transition has been seamless. They have equated to over 77% of their 44 league goals and will rise to the challenge of the Premier League’s third most solid backline.
Ollie Watkins – 18 goals and three assists
Bryan Mbeumo – 11 goals and five assists
Said Benrahma – Five goals and six assists
Demarai Gray
With important matches against West Ham United and Aston Villa either side of this, it will be an opportunity for the rotational players to show what they can do and give the main men a chance to recover. One player that has divided opinion for a while on the domestic and international English scene is Demarai Gray, the 23-year-old seems to have stagnated a touch since the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, some may suggest he is nearing the end of a frustrating spell at the King Power Stadium.
Unplayable on his day, the Birmingham City youth product should get the chance to strut his stuff against the Championship’s best defence and demonstrate what he can contribute to the Foxes’ faltering push to qualify for the Champions League. He has scored 12 goals and laid on 15 assists across 156 appearances in an up and down spell, where he will be needed most in this cup tie if they are to progress to the fifth round.
The likes of James Justin and Marc Albrighton should also come into the eleven and have their chance to prove to the gaffer what they have to offer.
The cauldron effect at Griffin Park will spur the Bees on to test third placed Leicester in a fierce long-time coming meeting between these two.
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The hosts asserted themselves on the tie but could not break down the backline led by Caglar Soyuncu and Wes Morgan, despite the Bees having more shots.