Brentford are preparing for the second of three successive London derbies this weekend, with Crystal Palace making the trip from SE25 to TW8.
The sides head into the game on contrasting runs of form. The Bees’ draw at Arsenal extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 10 matches, while Palace arrive at the Gtech Community Stadium looking for their first win of 2023.
The Opposition
World Cup break disrupts Palace’s momentum
Three-time Premier League winner Patrick Vieira enjoyed a pretty solid return to English football after taking charge at Selhurst Park in July 2021, guiding Crystal Palace to within three points of the top half.
Wilfried Zaha hit a career-best 15 goals in all competitions, Conor Gallagher starred during a loan spell from Chelsea and Michael Olise continued his meteoric rise, following a move from Reading, which resulted in a maiden France under-21 call-up.
Last summer, the club’s pre-season was severely disrupted prior to their July tour of Australia and Singapore, with only 10 senior players travelling after either being deemed fit or meeting the Covid-19 regulations to enter the country, meaning Zaha, Olise, Ebere Eze and Marc Guehi were among those left behind.
Thankfully for Vieira, it did not seem to have too much of an adverse effect.
The Eagles were in action on the opening night of the Premier League season, when they were beaten 2-0 by a buoyant Arsenal side, but they showed, in fleeting glimpses, encouraging signs of what they are able to produce.
That was illustrated in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on 15 August, when they took the lead before Luis Diaz’s second-half strike rescued the Reds, and in the 4-2 defeat to Manchester City just under a fortnight later, when they raced into a 2-0 lead, only for an Erling Haaland hat-trick to turn the game.
It was a similar story against Chelsea on 1 October. In the opening months of the season, it seemed to be the case that opponents would sense an opportunity when Palace took the lead, while they would do the same if they were the ones to fall behind.
Since the Premier League returned after the World Cup break, Palace have struggled to get back into the groove.
In the league, they have played eight games, won once and scored five goals, in comparison to winning five of their first 15 matches in the Premier League and being on the verge of the top half before the break. They lost to Southampton in the FA Cup third round last month, too.
A hamstring injury suffered by Zaha in the goalless draw with Newcastle on 21 January has kept him out for the two games since and though there are encouraging signs that a return could be imminent, the initial prognosis suggested he could be out of action until March.
The return of their chief tormentor – who has either scored or assisted nine goals in 20 appearances – will be something Palace are counting down the days until.
Right now, there is a buffer between Vieira’s men and the clutch of teams ensconced in the embryonic relegation battle.
Seven points separate Palace and the bottom three, but that gap could narrow rapidly without an upturn in form.
Team News
Brentford trio remain unavailable, while Zaha’s absence is confirmed by Vieira
Thomas Frank will be without three players for the visit of Crystal Palace.
Frank Onyeka, Pontus Jansson (both hamstring) and Thomas Strakosha (ankle) are all set to miss out.
However, with more than two weeks until Brentford's next fixture, Frank expects the trio to be pushing for a return by then.
Crystal Palace were dealt a blow with Patrick Vieira confirming on Friday that Wilfried Zaha faces another couple of weeks on the sidelines with his hamstring injury.
Defenders Chris Richards (back), Joachim Andersen (calf) and Joel Ward (muscle), and Nathan Ferguson (Achilles), will also miss the trip to TW8.
The Gameplan
With Edmund Brack, Crystal Palace reporter for South London Press
“Last season I could have told you the starting line-up and formation with ease, but that’s not been the case this season.
“It’s usually the same back five, though. Chris Richards has picked up an injury, so James Tomkins will more than likely keep his place in the side.
“As Brentford like to have the ball, I assume it will be a 4-2-3-1.
“Lokonga might come in for Will Hughes, but, honestly, it’s hard to pick what the starting XI will be because I don’t think Vieira knows it himself.”
Hot off the Press with Edmund Brack
Stats Zone
Playmaker provide the key numbers behind Saturday’s clash at the Gtech
10 Only Newcastle United (17) are on a longer unbeaten run in the Premier League than Brentford (10). The Bees are one of only three teams to string 10 unbeaten games together in the top flight this season (along with Newcastle and Arsenal)
8 Only Manchester United (11) have scored more goals in the last 15 mins of games (76-90+) than Brentford (8)
8 Only Newcastle (12), Arsenal and Manchester United (both nine) have kept more clean sheets than Brentford (eight)
15.5 Brentford, on average, take shots closer to their opponent's goal than any team (15.5 yards)
14 Ivan Toney is third in the top goalscorer charts with 14. Only Haaland (25) and Kane (17) have more goals
10 Toney has the deadliest right foot in the Premier League this season, scoring 10 of his 14 goals with his right peg (as well as two left-footed goals and two headers)
97 David Raya is top for most saves across UEFA’s top-five leagues (97)
246 Raya is top for most accurate long passes (246). He is 69 long passes clear of Gavin Bazunu in second place
128 Ethan Pinnock has made more clearances (128) than any other player
57 Wilfried Zaha is the most-fouled player in the division, winning 57 free-kicks. Ivan Toney, having suffered 46 fouls, is joint-second on the list with Palace's Jordan Ayew
11 Only Wolverhampton Wanderers (10) have scored fewer goals from open play than Palace (11)
55 Cheick Doucoure ranks sixth for tackles won (55) and first for interceptions (38)
33 Eberechi Eze and Zaha have made the joint-most successful dribbles this term (33, level with Gabriel Martinelli)
The Manager
Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira is widely considered as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
After struggling for game time at AC Milan as a youngster, the Frenchman joined compatriot Arsene Wenger at Arsenal ahead of the 1996/97 season.
Vieira was named in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year for six consecutive years from 1999 to 2004. He helped the Gunners win four FA Cups and three league titles, which included their famous Invincibles campaign.
Vieira then moved back to Italy, playing for Juventus and Inter Milan, where he won four league titles in succession, before returning to the Premier League with Manchester City. He won the FA Cup with City before retiring in 2011.
Vieira represented France over a period of 12 years. He lifted the 1998 World Cup trophy and featured heavily as the team won Euro 2000.
Following retirement, Vieira transitioned into coaching and took charge of the academy at Manchester City in 2013. He departed two years later to join MLS side New York City and then managed Ligue 1 club Nice in 2018.
He was appointed manager of Crystal Palace in July 2021 and guided the Eagles to a 14th-place finish in his first season in charge.
Last Meeting
Crystal Palace 1 Brentford 1 (Premier League, 30 August 2022)
A game high on endeavour and entertainment, but low on chances, looked like it was going to be settled by a piece of Wilfried Zaha brilliance on the hour.
But Yoane Wissa beat the offside trap with two minutes to play, meeting Vitaly Janelt’s cross with a firm header to earn Brentford a share of the spoils.
Match officials
Paul Tierney set for ninth Brentford assignment
Referee: Paul Tierney
Assistant referees: Neil Davies and Akil Howson
Fourth official: Samuel Barrott
Video assistant referee: Jarred Gillett
Additional video assistant referee: Richard West
After seven seasons in the EFL, Paul Tierney was added to the Select Group of Premier League referees in March 2016.
Less than two years later, the Lancashire official was elevated to the FIFA list of referees for international matches.
The 42-year-old's career highlight so far came in April 2021 when he took charge of the EFL Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Bees’ record under Tierney reads three wins, three draws and two defeats from eight previous encounters.
Tierney’s two Brentford games last year had plenty of drama.
The Wigan-born official took charge of March’s home clash with Burnley - sending off Nathan Collins and awarding a late penalty during the Bees’ 2-0 victory - and then the final-day visit from Leeds United which saw Sergi Canos dismissed in a 2-1 defeat.
Tierney has taken charge of 18 Premier League games so far this campaign, the most of any official, showing 59 yellow cards and two red cards.
Crystal Palace 22/23
261 fouls – second-most in Premier League
51 yellow cards – third-most in Premier League
two red cards – third-most in Premier League