Barnsley V Brentford
Sunday 29th September 2019 – 13:30 Kick-Off
English Championship
Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
Odds: 23/20
Bookmaker: BetVictor
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/5 | 53/20 | 97/100 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 26th September 2019 at 10:40)
Preview: Just three wins between them all season speaks volumes about the type of contest we have in prospect here, as Barnsley welcome Brentford to Oakwell in a game featuring two struggling teams near the foot of The Championship table. It’s a game which can be viewed live on Sky Sports.
English Championship Betting – 22Bet
Barnsley Preview – Tykes desperate for second win of season?
An immediate return to League One beckons unless Barnsley can turn around their dire current form which has seen them not celebrate a league victory since stunning promotion candidates Fulham (1-0) in their season opener. Just two teams have collected fewer points at this stage of the season (W1 D2 L5 – 22nd in the table), while their four goals scored from eight matches is the worst figure in the entire division.
According to Expected Goals, The Tykes should actually be a couple places further down in the standings, in last place, such has been their struggles acclimatising to the division since clinching promotion as runners-up from League One. Losing 1-0 away to Nottingham Forest in their latest encounter made it two successive defeats, both without so much as scoring, with young forward Mallik Wilks the last player to put the ball in the net – and that was almost five hours of football ago.
Oakwell will need to play its role if their team are to haul themselves back into form. It was the setting for their only victory of the season to date – that narrow success over Fulham at the beginning of August. Since then, though, it is one point out a possible nine, losing the most recent two home encounters versus Luton Town (1-3) and high-flying Leeds (0-2). Although, Barnsley would win this same fixture 2-0 a couple of seasons ago.
Brentford Preview – The Bees to sting faltering Barnsley?
Among the highest scorers in this same division last season, the goals have dried up in these early stages and would partly explain why Brentford have struggled to get going so far. The Bees will approach their ninth league game of 2019-20 down in 17th, three points above the relegation zone after winning only two of their opening eight fixtures (W2 D2 L4, GF5 GA4).
There is an argument, however, that Brentford have been slightly unfortunate to be where they are currently in the standings. Infogol considers them to be the ninth best team in this league, with the attack in particular massively underachieving, scoring on average 0.6 per game from chances equating to 1.30xGF. So it isn’t as though chances are not being created, which might suggest it is only a matter of time before their scoring touch is rediscovered.
Would you want to bank on them doing so in this fixture? On current form, perhaps not. As even though the form of the opposition remains just as suspect as their own, this Brenford side have not managed a goal on their travels since beating Middlesbrough 1-0 at The Riverside Stadium on August 10, losing to nil at Leeds (1-0), Charlton (1-0) and Preston (2-0) since. Meanwhile, drawing 0-0 at home to struggling Stoke in their most recent fixture was their fourth blank in the last five.
Barnsley V Brentford Key Facts:
- Barnsley go into this game third from bottom in the Championship table, in 22nd (W1 D2 L5), and without a win since first game of the season.
- Brentford arrive in 17th position (W2 D2 L4), failing to score in four of their last five.
- Unbeaten in the last four head-to-head encounters are Barnsley (W2 D2), who were 2-0 victors at home the last occasion these sides clashed.
Betting Summary
No win since the opening weekend has resulted in Barnsley embarking on a seemingly never-ending drift down the Championship table. Claiming two points from their last seven fixtures (D2 L5) is alarming form, with a 1-0 loss away to Nottingham Forest last time out a second defeat in succession. Moreover, it is now no goal scored in three games. The only positive is that all four of their goals this season were scored at home, which happens to be where four of their five points were registered (W1 D1 L2).
The problem for Brentford this season has been an inability to convert chances, because this team does create opportunities. A paltry return of five goals all season then, to which only one was notched away from home, is huge cause for concern. Drawing 0-0 at home to struggling Stoke last weekend was the fourth match in five in which they failed to locate the back of the net meanwhile. No surprises then to learn this team has won two games all season (W2 D2 L4).
These teams are seriously out of form, with not only points and victories at a premium but goals as well. Bearing all this in mind, the odds on Under 2.5 Goals feels generous. Barnsley have failed to score in 5/8 this season, a miserable record that Brentford can match. Therefore, backing very little goalmouth action is an obvious play.
