Free-scoring Brentford can rattle in the goals against Sheffield Wednesday to reach Carabao Cup quarter-finals
Date: 2024-10-28
Diehard Brentford fans may not be happy if their team walked out to a song written by a Chelsea fan but the Bees should seriously consider playing ‘That’s Entertainment’ by The Jam before kick-off.
The brilliant tune sums up matches at the Gtech Community Stadium, which is the place to be for anyone wanting to watch the ball bulge the net on a regular basis.
Thomas Frank’s entertainers have scored more goals on home soil than any other team in the Premier League, hitting the net 15 times compared to the 12 celebrated by Manchester City and Arsenal fans and the 11 by Tottenham supporters.
Brentford’s potent attack is led by Bryan Mbeumo, who took his tally in the top flight this season to eight with a couple of strikes including the late winner in the 4-3 thriller with Ipswich on Saturday, and that’s only bettered by the dozen fired in by Manchester City marksman Erling Haaland. So far so good.
The trouble is the nine goals Brentford have conceded at home is only topped by the 12 allowed by Wolves and the ten given up by West Ham. Ouch.
Both sides have scored in all six of the Bees’ home matches this season, a run that includes a 3-1 victory over League One outfit Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup and which is expected to be extended when Championship club Sheffield Wednesday play a fourth consecutive away tie in the competition when they travel to west London.
A place in the quarter-finals is at stake so it’s possible changes will not be as wholesale as usual, especially as the Bees make the short journey to Fulham at the weekend.
Mbeumo has opened the scoring on four occasions this season and is 4/1 with bet365 and Betfred to do so again if he starts and he is 5/4 with the former firm to score at any time.
If he doesn’t feature from the kick-off then the opening goal could well be converted by Fabio Carvalho, who set the Bees on their way to victory over the O’s, and he is 13/2 to break the deadlock with bet365 who offer 11/5 he scores at any time.
There have been over three goals in four of Brentford’s six home games this term and Unibet, BetUK and BetMGM go 17/10 there are 3.5 or more against the Owls, while the Bees to win and both teams to score is 2/1 with bet365 and Sky Bet.
Even Paul Weller’s ‘Man in the Corner Shop’ will like those flutters.
• It’s been a decent week or so for us with Chris Wood, Phil Foden and Richarlison bringing in first and anytime goalscorer bets, Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski both scoring, Manchester City winning by more than 3.5 goals in Europe, Chelsea leading HT/FT and Aston Villa beating Bologna 2-0.
Regrettably, the Football League acca remains in bit of a slump but let’s try to put that right by going with Bolton, Northampton and Reading to gain away wins in League One and land a Tuesday night treble.
• Northumberland Plate winner Onesmoothoperator, trained in Yorkshire by Brian Ellison, goes into the stalls for the Melbourne Cup in the early hours of Friday morning following a superb victory in the Geelong Cup and is worth an each-way bet at 8/1 with numerous bookmakers.