Bona fide cup classic on show at Brentford
Perennial Championship promotion candidates Brentford will be looking to get over their recent disappointment in the EFL Cup semi-finals by claiming a sizeable scalp in the shape of genuine Premier League contenders Leicester City in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon at their still new Community Stadium. The hosts have picked up two costly red cards in their prior three outings, including that defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, which will dampen their chances of springing a shock slightly. Nevertheless, their enterprising attacking style will be an intriguing counterpoint to the Foxes' quick passing, counter whenever possible credo. Read our preview here:
A Forss to be reckoned with
That loss is the distinctly secondary cup competition remains the Bees' only reverse in the last three months, and after experiencing a middling start to the campaign following their fall at the final hurdle in the play-offs, they're now very close to the summit once more with games in hand on most teams surrounding them. Even more encouragingly, their exploits away from the Championship have not come at the cost of their results, winning the last two to put themselves within touching distance of second placed Swansea. At the weekend, head coach Thomas Frank must make do without hitman Ivan Toney and the probing passing of Josh Dasilva through suspension, but will still be able to call upon most of the other supporting cast of an extremely impressive outfit. Backup striker Marcus Forss, who will likely feature in Finland's first major international tournament in the summer (should it go ahead), has managed to grab five goals in the league, mostly from the bench. Whilst he has come on no fewer than 16 times, the actual strike rate in terms of minutes is better than one a game. Adept across the front three thanks to his pace and good technique, he will test Leicester's stubborn defence with his anticipation as to where the whipped crosses and through balls will land.
Now, Wesley!
The irrepressible Jamie Vardy has been withdrawn from contention by a hip injury, but probably wouldn't have been risked by Brendan Rodgers in any case. Kelechi Ihenacho is a very different customer up top, who will do more to bring others into play at the price of slowing the pace of the game down markedly. Nampalys Mendy and Dennis Praet also won't feature, so the midfield five will probably have four names the same as the side that put Chelsea to the sword with some swagger in midweek. Marcus Maddison will watch on from the bench whilst either Ayoze Pérez or Cengiz Ünder feed off Ihenacho in a 4-2-3-1. Further back, Wesley Fofana is perhaps the standout centre back in the Premier League aged 21 and under; the young French stopper has no major weaknesses to his game and years to improve, and he'll need to have his wits about him to cut out all the clever balls into the box that Brentford's mercurial wide pairing of Sergi Canós and Bryan Mbeumo can conjure up between them.
Rodgers to dodge a bullet?
For the neutral, it would've been even more of a mouthwatering prospect had Dasilva and Toney been available, but it should be no less of a pulsating clash. Brendan Rodgers could perhaps be forgiven in this day and age for not being overly concerned should the Foxes succumb to Brentford, given that his charges are in the knockout stages of the Europa League, as well as just two points off Manchester United in the Premier. However, the squad at the King Power is deeper and more rounded than at any other time in their modern history, so he'll still expect the best from the XI he does put out, which will be close to full strength in any case. Versatile attacking midfielder Harvey Barnes has scored five in his last 10 appearances in all competitions, and he is more of a potent threat than Ihenacho or Marcus Albrighton when it comes to getting shots off. betway have odds of 5.50 for the once-capped England international to score first in what ought to be a cracker.
