Brentford vs Wolves Prediction: Wolves can sting the Bees again

The FA Cup third-round is one of the highlights of the domestic season and there are some cracking contests starting on Thursday evening.

There’s an all-Premier League tie between Brentford and Wolves in West London on Friday night (KO, 19:15) and it promises to be an interesting clash.

The Bees are rated the narrow favourites for their clash, but they may fail to live up to expectations when Wolves come to the Gtech Community Stadium.

Team News

Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa are at the AFCON and Saman Ghoddos will be in Asia Cup action. Ben Mee is suspended following his red card against Aston Villa, while Bryan Mbuemo, Rico Henry, Ivan Toney, Aaron Hickey and Kevin Schade remain out. Josh Dasilva could return to the Brentford squad.

Rayan Ait-Nouri and Boubacar Traore have left for the AFCON, while Hee-Chan Hwang is away at the Asia Cup. Jonny Otto is not part of Gary O’Neil’s plans and Mario Lemina has returned to France to attend to a family issue and could miss the cup contest.

Match Odds

With this being a cup tie, 90-minute betting applies. Despite their recent Premier League slump, Brentford are marginal favourites at 13/10 on home soil. Wolves ran out easy winners at this venue in December and are 15/8 to repeat the dose, while the 90-minute stalemate is priced at 21/10.

There were five goals in the league meeting here recently, with Over 4.5 goals this time priced at 11/2, while Both Teams to Score is 8/11.

Wolves to beat Brentford @ 15/8

Brentford have plummeted towards the bottom of the Premier League table, after a run that has seen the Bees lose seven of their last eight matches and the FA Cup may not give Thomas Frank’s men much relief.

It’s unfair to be too harsh on Brentford, given the players they have missed this season, but a small squad is going to be tested even further with the AFCON and Asia Cup international call ups.

The Bees are without key trio Bryan Mbuemo, Rico Henry and Ivan Toney, while Aaron Hickey, Kevin Schade, Frank Onyeka, Yoane Wissa, Ben Mee and Saman Ghoddos will all miss the visit of Wolves.

Gary O’Neil has selection issues of his own, with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Boubacar Traore and Hee-Chan Hwang away on international duty, but those absentees look insignificant compared to the issues Frank has to deal with.

Wolves stung the Bees 4-1 in the Premier League last month and another convincing victory could await O’Neil’s in-form side.

Over 2.5 goals @ EVS

There have been 14 goals in Wolves’ last four matches, while 15 of their last 18 games have gone over the 2.5-goal mark, and O’Neil’s men will be relishing the opportunity to get some shots off against a depleted Brentford side.

The Bees have seen 20 goals in their last six matches, and it’s a big worry that the west London outfit have shipped 13 strikes in their previous five games.

Taking over 2.5 goals looks a pretty sound wager on Friday night for this FA Cup tussle in the capital.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.