Brentford to at last achieve their PL ambitions
Wembley Stadium will once again host the 'most lucrative game in club football', with the promise of exponentially greater revenue and a seat at the top table of the English pyramid. West London outfit Brentford haven't graced such heights in nearly 80 years, and naturally, have never been in the division in its modern form. They have been banging on the door through various guises for several seasons now without managing to achieve that dream, and standing in their way in the Championship Play-Off Final in 2020/2021 will be Swansea City, who up until fairly recently were synonymous with the lower leagues, just as their opponents were. However, the Welsh side were there as recently as 2017/2018, and will be itching to be the undisputed top dogs in the principality once more. Read our preview here:
Setting the right Toney
Naturally, much of the focus on the Bees will be directed squarely at record-breaking hitman Ivan Toney. The former Newcastle United striker hit his 31st league goal earlier this month, setting a new benchmark for most strikes in a Championship campaign. Head coach Thomas Frank will be relying on him to come with the goods yet again in what's bound to be a tense spectacle with all the pressure (and financial considerations) riding on it. The Danish manager will be looking to his partner to take some of the heat off him, too. Marcus Forss stepped up from the bench to score a crucial goal in the second leg comeback over AFC Bournemouth, and could be rewarded for his efforts with a start alongside one of the hottest properties in the domestic game. Rico Henry is unlikely to be fit for the encounter, and Ethan Pinnock will be looking to lock down the guile and intelligence of Andre Ayew on his side of the defensive trio to cut off Swansea's biggest natural threat.
Redoubtable Routledge
It's not just Ayew they have to consider, however. Veteran Wayne Routledge has increasingly been deployed as the central striker, but tasked with pressing the backline into errors, more than for any potency he might have. Brentford like to play out from defence, and will need their pivots in midfield to be resistant to this tactic, and Steve Cooper also has the pace and trickery of Jamal Lowe at his disposal in the left half-space of the attacking trio. The well-balanced engine room will be the balancing act, and Aston Villa loanee Conor Horihane has plenty of big game experience, and that could prove a difference maker if things remain tight. Elsewhere, the more conservative choice of Kyle Naughton could get the nod at right-back to deal with Brentford's wing-play and greater thrust, and Chelsea youngster Marc Guéhi has looked beyond his tender age in the heart of defence, but will all too aware that keeping Toney quiet will be the greatest challenge he has yet faced.
Moneyball spinners
Brentford have tried and failed on several occasions to make that big step up to the promised land, and their much-copied 'Moneyball' model of player recruitment and sales, whilst offering a stability that isn't reliant on who's in the dugout, has inevitably at times seen them had to sell some of their most prized assets at inopportune times, all the while bringing in and developing others. That stance takes time, but crucially, they have held onto Pinnock and Toney in particular. Even a win and all the glory that will get them might not be sufficient to retain both over the summer; however, they are favourites for a season on Saturday, and very unlikely to deviate from their plans in the Premier League. bet365 have odds of 9.00 for a 2-1 victory over Swansea City in 90 minutes.
