Brentford vs Bournemouth Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction

Keith Andrews has been able to keep his team true and competitive during the season, which has been tough at times but also very commendable, given the circumstances of losing key players and filling the big shoes of Thomas Frank. They have been tough to break down, show aggression in transitions, and thrive on direct play, making them a tricky side to face. 

The last five matches have seen the Bees being tested against some of the more superior teams in the league, which has seen them face back-to-back defeats against both London clubs, Arsenal and Tottenham. Andrews needed a big performance against Leeds, and his men managed to respond after securing a point at home ahead of another mammoth fixture against Man City.

The trip to the Etihad was always going to be a challenge too high for Andrew's men and proved so after being outplayed throughout the fixture. After eventually losing on the night to be eliminated from the EFL Cup, there were some key takeaways to work with going into the Wolves game. Despite the pressure of playing away, the Bees put in a strong second-half performance to return to winning ways. Now with Bournemouth in sight, confidence and belief will be high as they aim to put the Cherries to the sword. 

Bournemouth has found it difficult to get going this season, even to the point where they now find themselves nine points above the relegation zone. Despite this minor slump, Andoni Iraola is more than capable of getting his team back on track. By balancing aggression with direct attacking intent, Iraola’s men are adept at going toe-to-toe by quickly turning defence into attack. 

To further highlight the Cherries’ struggles, the last five games have seen them being exposed defensively and showing inconsistency. Despite dominating possession and controlling proceedings, Bournemouth faced back-to-back defeats against Sunderland and Everton. A reaction was required to go into the Chelsea game, and they held the Blues to a draw, earning a well-deserved point.

Old Trafford would be the next destination, and again they managed to secure another valuable point in an eight-goal thriller against Man United. Last time out, they looked certain to return to winning ways, having welcomed relegation-threatened Burnley to the Vitality Stadium, but a lapse in concentration saw the Clarets equalize late in the game, and they had to settle for their third consecutive draw. Knowing how important a victory is here against Brentford, dropping points is non-negotiable.