Brentford Match Preview

David Moyes helped West Ham United to pick up their first victory of 2024 against Brentford in this fixture last season. The home fans will be hoping that Graham Potter can follow suit when Thomas Frank’s side visit Stratford this afternoon.

Until January 4, when they made the trip to newly-promoted Southampton, the Bees hadn’t notched up an away victory all season. However, since the turn of the year, their campaign has been turned on its head and they are now collecting more points away from West London rather than at The Gtech Community Stadium.

With the Hammers in need of a first three points since January 14, they will hope that there isn’t another sting in store for them.

The visitors had a good record in this particular fixture from when they were promoted in 2021. That was up until last season and having become the first team to take points from them this season, when former Head-Coach Julen Lopetegui watched his team draw 1-1 with their hosts back on 28 September, the home faithful will be hoping that maximum points come their way this time around.

Potter’s team were perhaps unfortunate to take nothing away from their last London derby at Chelsea twelve days ago, despite turning in another impressive performance.

Prior to Potter watching his current side losing 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, West Ham’s latest opponents had been beaten by Tottenham Hotspur, causing the Irons to drop a place in the table. However, the result of Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby now means that the East Londoners go into this game occupying sixteenth place.

Today’s visitors have had one extra day’s preparation, having faced Ange Postecoglou’s men a day earlier but both teams will have surely benefited from a period of time off.

This will be the first time that the East Londoners will have played in front of their own fans for just over a month and they will hope to put on a show for the majority inside the stadium.

Edson Álvarez and Lucas Paquetá were missing last time out due to injury, and both will be hoping to return to the starting line-up here, as will the club’s only major January recruit Evan Ferguson and returning loanee James Ward-Prowse. Andrew Irving will hope to retain his place after a long wait for a full debut against Enzo Maresca’s team.

Aaron Cresswell will be hoping to remain in the side, although Konstantinos Mavropanos could come in if Potter decides changes are needed.

The Head-Coach stated in his pre-match news conference ahead of this game on Thursday that Jean-Clair Todibo is back in training but would only be fit enough for the bench if included. He also reported that Crysencio Summerville has suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury and won’t be available until after the March international break.

With the first-team not involved in the fourth-round of the Emirates FA Cup last weekend, Development Squad Coach Mark Robson took advantage and was able to welcome back Lewis Orford and Kaelan Casey into his squad for the 1-0 triumph over Arsenal last Friday and the added bonus for Casey was that he got the winner. The pair, along with Oliver Scarles, are set to be involved again here.

The match is a 3pm kick-off and the referee is Darren England.