.Brentford vs Bournemouth
22 May 1230hrs
Football – England – Championship
Pick Brentford
Bookmaker Betfair
Odds: 19/20 odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 20 May
Bournemouth edged the first leg of this playoff tie so Brentford have it all to do as both sides look to take a big step towards the Premier League
Table of Contents
Brentford Preview – Can the Bees avoid further playoff heartache by coming from behind and reaching the final?
It was so near yet so far for Brentford last season as their bid to play Premier League football for the first time was destroyed at the final hurdle. A 2-1 defeat in extra-time to Fulham was heart breaking and Thomas Frank would have been hoping to avoid having to navigate through the playoffs this time around. For about two thirds of the season it looked like that would be the case but a run of draws from the middle of March onwards proved to be their downfall.
Brentford had six draws in seven matches around that time which handed the initiative to Watford who took full advantage finishing second and sealing an automatic return to the top flight. The Bees were four points behind at the end of the regular season.
Frank’s men finished the campaign with four wins and kept three clean sheets prior to their first leg meeting with Bournemouth. But they were unable to continue that winning run. It means they return home needing a big performance otherwise they are resigned to another season in the Championship.
When you need goals it helps to have the best in the business at this level and that’s Ivan Toney. Signed last summer, Toney has scored 31 goals in the Championship – a record for a single season in the division.
Bournemouth Preview – Will Woodgate and his players complete the job as they look for an immediate return to the top flight?
Few would have expected Jonathan Woodgate to be managing in the Championship playoffs this season. The former Middlesbrough boss has steadied the ship at Bournemouth and now has the club on the brink of the final and one game away from an immediate return to the Premier League following relegation last season.
Woodgate has only been in charge since February but the winning run they put together between March and the end of April proved to be significant. The Cherries won seven straight in that time, eventually finishing in sixth spot.
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Bournemouth last their last three matches of the regular season (one of which was against Brentford) and failed to score in each of them. It didn’t look like the preparation you would want heading into the playoffs but they performed well on Monday and were probably deserving of their lead at the halfway stage.
Although they now have to negotiate the away leg of the tie it’s unlikely to phase Bournemouth who have picked up on their travels of late. They’ve won five of the last seven and lost only two of their last 10 on the road. It seems to suit their style and that will give them confidence.
Brentford vs Bournemouth Betting Advice
One of these team’s season will end after this match and it will be a long summer for whoever that is. The other, however, will be looking forward to a one-off game against either Barnsley or Swanea the following week.
If Bournemouth were to get through then it would be the first time that all three teams relegated from the Premier League the season previous return at the first time of asking. Brentford will be very much hoping that is not the case.
Key Facts – Brentford vs Bournemouth Betting Tip
- Brentford lost out in the playoff final last season, losing to Fulham at Wembley
- Bournemouth responded from three straight defeats to end the season by winning 1-0 at home on Monday
- The winners of this tie will face either Barnsley or Swansea in the final which will be played 29th May
Brentford will take some confidence from the fact that they beat Bournemouth twice in the regular season. They will have to be more dangerous going forward than they were in the first leg. It’s a tie which had the look of being decided on fine margins so I’m taking the home team to be winning at the end of the 90 minutes. But that may not be the end of the drama.
Best Betting Odds for Brentford vs Bournemouth