Brentford return to action this weekend as they make the trip up the M40 to take on a Wolverhampton Wanderers side still casting worried glances over their shoulders.

Defeat to Newcastle United last time out sends Thomas Frank’s Bees into the game in ninth, while Wolves picked up a much-needed three points with a 1-0 home victory over Chelsea.

That victory, coming courtesy of Matheus Nunes’ wonder strike, moved the Midlanders up to 13th, four points clear of the relegation zone.

The opposition

Wolves remain in relegation battle despite upturn under Lopetegui

Wolverhampton Wanderers are by no means safe, given the nature of this season’s Premier League relegation battle, but they are in a far better position now than they were when Julen Lopetegui took charge at Molineux during the World Cup break.

One win in eight to begin with under Bruno Lage, and then just four points from seven games with Steve Davis in interim charge, left Wolves staring up the league table at everybody else when Lopetegui was appointed.

However, the experienced Spanish manager had Wolves out of the relegation zone three games into his tenure and they haven’t been back since thanks to six wins and three draws from 15 matches.

The issue this season has been obvious: goals, or, more specifically, the lack of them.

Only Everton have registered fewer than Wolves’ 24 Premier League strikes. They have scored one or fewer in 25 of their 30 Premier League games with five of their eight league wins coming 1-0. Daniel Podence (six) and Ruben Neves (five) are the only Wolves players with more than two league goals to their name.

While they haven’t got more free-scoring under Lopetegui, they have become much more solid defensively. After conceding 24 times in their 15 games before the World Cup, they’ve let in just 18 in the 15 since.

Of the six home goals they have conceded since Boxing Day, four came against Leeds United last month, while Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea all failed to score in defeats at Molineux in 2023.

Wolves don’t tend to draw games at home this season. Only the bottom two, Leicester City and Southampton, have lost more home games than Wolves (seven) but their six home wins is the most of anyone outside the top nine.

With three different head coaches over the season, it’s no surprise that they have struggled for consistent team selection. Only Nottingham Forest and Chelsea have used more players, with Jose Sa, Max Kilman and Ruben Neves alone in starting more than 23 of Wolves' league games this term.

That team selection hasn’t been helped by a league-high six red cards this season as well.

Lopetegui has been fluid with his formations since taking over. When he has been able to call on the services of Diego Costa or Raul Jiminez, he has often partnered one of them alongside Brazilian youngster Matheus Cunha.

Otherwise, it has been Cunha leading the line with Podence, Matheus Nunes, Adama Traore and Pablo Sarabia proving the attacking threat from midfield.

Team news

Jansson likely to miss remainder of the season

Pontus Jansson is unlikely to feature again this season.

The defender was withdrawn in the 16th minute of Brentford’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United last time out with a hamstring injury.

It’s a fresh setback for Jansson who has only featured in 12 games this term.

“It’s a hamstring injury that will most likely keep him out for the rest of the season,” Thomas Frank revealed at his press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“It’s bad news for us and for Pontus. There’s a small chance [he returns], but it’s a big one unfortunately.

“I would prefer to have Pontus, no doubt about that. He’s our captain and a very important player for us. It’s a setback, but it is what it is, and we have to deal with it.”

Jansson joins Keane Lewis-Potter (knee), Frank Onyeka and Kristoffer Ajer (knee) in missing the game.

Vitaly Janelt (knee) made his return to action at home to Newcastle after nearly a month out.

Wolves will be without the suspended duo of Ruben Neves and Jonny, while Daniel Podence has until Wednesday to respond to an FA charge of spitting. Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho (both knee) are out while Boubacar Traore (groin) is still being assessed.

In the dugout

Julen Lopetegui

Julen Lopetegui has been in charge at Wolverhampton Wanderers for five months - his first job outside of the Iberian peninsula.

A goalkeeper during his playing days, Lopetegui came through with Real Madrid B, eventually going on to play one game for Real’s first team at the end of their 1989/90 title-winning season.

He then moved on to CD Logrones, playing a key role as they maintained their La Liga status during the early 1990s. A three-year, five-game spell with Barcelona followed before a successful end to his career, achieving promotion to La Liga with Rayo Vallecano.

He retired in 2002 and moved into coaching. His first two jobs, with Vallecano and Real Madrid B, weren’t spectacular but it was with Spain’s youth teams he began to have success.

He won European Championships at under-19 and under-21 level, before taking charge of Porto in 2014. He took the Portuguese side to the quarter-final of the Champions League in his first season, but a poor start to the following campaign saw him relieved of his duties in January 2016.

His next role came with Spain. He led them to the World Cup finals in Russia in 2018, winning nine of his 10 qualifiers, but was sacked on the eve of the tournament after it was announced he would be taking up the Real Madrid job.

That stint as Real Madrid manager lasted just 14 matches, before a much more successful three-year spell with Sevilla, which included winning the UEFA Europa League in 2019/20, preceded his arrival at Molineux.

Classic Clash

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Brentford 2 (Premier League, 18 September 2021)

Brentford clinched their first away win as a Premier League side with a 2-0 victory over Wolves.

Ivan Toney converted a penalty just before the half-hour and then set up Bryan Mbeumo to score a second soon after.

Brentford’s 2-0 half-time lead looked like it could be threatened when Shandon Baptiste was sent off, but a superb defensive performance kept the hosts out and the Bees took the points.

Match officials

Paul Tierney set for 10th Brentford assignment

Referee: Paul Tierney

Assistants: Neil Davies and Scott Ledger

Fourth official: Craig Pawson

VAR: Stuart Attwell

Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood

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, four draws and two defeats from nine previous encounters.

Tierney’s last three Brentford games have had plenty of drama.

The Wigan-born official took charge of last season’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.

This year he was in charge of February’s visit from Crystal Palace which saw Vitaly Janelt score a 96th-minute equaliser.

Tierney has taken charge of 25 Premier League games so far this campaign, the most of any official, showing 90 yellow cards and two reds.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 22/23

353 fouls – third in Premier League

64 yellow cards – fourth in Premier League

6 red cards – most in Premier League