A Sunday lunchtime trip to Leeds United is up next for Thomas Frank and the Bees.
This weekend’s hosts have struggled of late. Without a win since the World Cup break, a five-game winless run has dropped them into the lower reaches of the Premier League table.
Get all the build-up to Brentford's game against Leeds United below.
THE OPPOSITION
Leeds United
The pressure is building once again at Elland Road with Jesse Marsch’s side winless in seven in all competitions heading into Wednesday’s Emirates FA Cup replay against Cardiff City.
A final-day victory at the Gtech Community Stadium in May ensured their Premier League survival and the early signs were that similar heroics wouldn’t be needed this time round.
The Whites took seven points from their opening three matches, including a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Chelsea, but they’ve added just 10 points to their tally in the 15 games since. That run has seen them drop to 14th in the table, albeit only two points above the drop zone.
The opening of the January window has brought fresh reinforcements in the shape of RB Salzburg defender Max Wober and Hoffenheim forward Georgino Rutter, the latter joining for a club-record fee.
Wober has been signed to shore up a defence that, similar to last season, has leaked far too many goals. Leeds shipped 79 goals last term and have already conceded 33 in 18 top-flight games this time round.
The Whites have conceded three or more goals five times this season, behind only Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest (6), and only Southampton (1) have kept fewer than Leeds’ three clean sheets.
Despite just two wins since August, which came in back-to-back games against Liverpool and Bournemouth before the World Cup break, Marsch remains upbeat about Leeds’ future.
Speaking in the wake of Friday night’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, a game Leeds were decidedly unfortunate not to take something from, Marsch said: “I’m more positive than I’ve ever been since I’ve been here.
"This is our most complete performance since I’ve been here and the best example of the way I believe the team can play. I’m in a positive place with our group.”
Much of that positivity likely comes from the recent performances of Italian wonderkid Wilfried Gnonto. The 19-year-old opened his Leeds account in their 2-2 draw with West Ham United earlier this month and was a constant threat in defeat at Villa Park.
More hope arrived with a return to the scoresheet for Patrick Bamford. The striker’s late consolation against Villa was his first goal in 13 injury-ravaged months.
The summer saw Leeds lose Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City and Raphinha to Barcelona. The loss of Phillips in the engine room has been offset by an impressive start to life in the Premier League for Tyler Adams while, in Raphinha’s absence, Rodrigo has taken over the goalscoring mantle with 11 in 19 appearances so far this term.
Leeds are towards the top of the Premier League table for players used so far this season but, despite that, Marsch has still kept a consistent core to his side.
Illan Meslier has been an ever-present in goal, with defenders Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk missing just one game between them. Marc Roca, Adams, Jack Harrison and Brenden Aaronson have made up the nucleus of the midfield in support of Rodrigo.
Team news
Full-back boost for Brentford
Brentford will welcome back Rico Henry following his calf injury.
Aaron Hickey (ankle) is ‘touch-and-go’ to make the squad for the first time since October after coming through 70 minutes for a Brentford XI on Wednesday.
Shandon Baptiste (groin) played 60 minutes in that game and is also closing in on a return.
Pontus Jansson and Frank Onyeka (both hamstring) remain absentees.
Leeds have a number of concerns ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Stuart Dallas, Archie Gray, Adam Forshaw and Crysencio Summerville are all out.
Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk and Robin Koch missed the midweek FA Cup win over Cardiff City although Cooper should be involved on Sunday.
January arrival Max Wober limped off on Wednesday night but looks to have avoided any major issue and is already back in training.
Record signing Georginio Rutter will likely be among the substitutes on Sunday as he builds up to full fitness.
The Gameplan
With The Athletic’s Phil Hay
“Latterly, it has been more of a 4-3-3, which, in theory, lets Leeds drop to three at the back when they are attacking and lets one of the full-backs, usually on the right side, push up a little bit further to add to the bodies in midfield and further up the pitch.
“That gives them more width, which they just don’t have in this set-up as they are a very narrow team.
“I suppose, as well, three across the middle, rather than a defensive two, should protect the flanks a little bit more, which is where Leeds are most vulnerable and have been throughout Marsch’s tenure.”
Read the full interview with Phil Hay here
THE BOSS
Jesse Marsch
Jesse Marsch was appointed head coach of Leeds United in February 2022.
A midfielder in his playing days for DC United, Chicago Fire and Chivas USA in MLS, Marsch won three MLS Cups, two Supporters’ Shields, and four US Open Cups during a career which also saw two caps for the United States national team.
Following his retirement, Marsch had a spell as assistant coach of the USMNT, before taking on the role of head coach at Montreal Impact in 2012.
Three years later, he joined New York Red Bulls, leading the team to the MLS Supporters’ Shield during his first season in charge.
Named MLS Coach of the Year in 2015, Marsch moved to Europe three years later, firstly as assistant to Ralf Rangnick at RB Leipzig, before taking over as head coach at RB Salzburg the next year.
At Salzburg, he won the Bundesliga and Austrian Cup double in both 2020 and 2021, before returning to RB Leipzig to become head coach in the summer of 2021.
Joining Leeds just over a year ago, Marsch took 15 points from his first 12 games in charge at Elland Road to secure final-day survival, but has added just four more league victories in 18 games this term, the most recent of those coming against Bournemouth in early November.
CLASSIC CLASH
Brentford 5 Leeds United 2 (Premier League, 3 September 2022)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Peter Bankes set to officiate his 15th Brentford game
Referee: Peter Bankes
Assistants: Edward Smart and Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth official: Graham Scott
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: James Mainwaring
Sunday will be Peter Bankes’ 15th game in charge of Brentford, stretching back to a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in April 2016.
The Bees have lost just four of those previous 14 games, memorably winning at Manchester City in November, the last time Bankes took charge of a Brentford game.
Last season saw a draw away at Aston Villa in August, a dramatic victory over West Ham United in October, and January’s defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
His first outing this term came away at Craven Cottage in August.
Despite showing the fourth-most yellow cards per Premier League game, the Merseyside official, who is in his fourth season in the Select Group 1 of top-flight referees, has yet to award a penalty or show a red card in the top flight this campaign.
Leeds United 22/23
238 fouls - most in Premier League
38 yellow cards - ninth-most in Premier League
2 red cards - third-most in Premier League