The Saturday tea-time Premier League fixture sees Nottingham Forest travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford.
Both clubs have struggled recently and this match has become crucial to the survival hopes of Forest and the Bees, who are both just outside the relegation zone.
- Chris Wood first goalscorer
- Over 2.5 goals
- Nottingham Forest to win 2-1
Wood Can Be The Hero Again
Chris Wood is riding the crest of a wave after scoring the winning goal in an FA Cup thriller at Blackpool on Wednesday night and the Kiwi could be set for more fun on Saturday.
Wood, a big-money recruit from Newcastle after an initial loan spell, has clearly settled into his role at his latest club. A spectacular hat-trick against his former employers at St James' Park on Boxing Day made him a hero with the Forest faithful.
Wood has scored five goals in his last five games, with four of those goals coming away from home. His pace and power is lethal on the counter-attack and brittle Brentford will be worrying about how they are going to stop the resurgent forward, who is loving life under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Goals Seem Likely At Both Ends
Brentford have lost their last five Premier League games and have been leaking goals. They conceded four goals at home to Wolves just after Christmas and Tuesday's FA Cup visit to the same opposition did nothing to raise morale.
Wolves got the better of Brentford in the FA Cup too – a 3-2 extra-time defeat to a 105th-minute penalty the latest hammerblow for the beleaguered Bees – and morale is extremely low. Relegation fears have suddenly become intense at the West London club.
Brentford do not have the luxury of filling up midfield, attempting to stop the rot, because a home fixture against one of the league's lesser lights demands a positive approach. Expect Thomas Frank's charges to attack and get on the scoresheet in a high-scoring game.
Tricky Trees Can Edge Tight Contest
Brentford finished ninth in the Premier League last season and manager Thomas Frank has always been held in extremely high regard by the team's fans, but these are troubling times for the Bees and their 50-year-old gaffer.
Brentford's home form has been poor, with three victories in their last 10 games. An injury to Bryan Mbeumo has been devastating to the team. The forward has scored seven Premier League goals this season and the Bees have lacked sting since he got crocked.
The return of Ivan Toney should galvanise Brentford in time, but one goal is probably all they can muster on Saturday. Forest will fancy their chances of scoring two or three. A 2-1 away victory seems the best value option. The Tricky Trees beat Manchester United in their final match of last year and confidence is suddenly surging through the camp.
