Preview: Wolves v Brentford – In-form teams do battle
“We can compete with anyone” is Brentford's assertion as they become the latest team to try and end Wolves’ unbeaten run.
The Bees may not be in the promotion mix just yet but if they continue the form they've showed since a nightmare start to the season, they soon will be.
Dean Smith's side were winless in their first eight games of the campaign, earning only four points – including one against Wolves in a 0-0 draw at Griffin Park in August.
Since a 3-0 win at Bolton in September finally broke their duck, the Bees have lost just twice (away at Cardiff and Hull) and won 33 points from 17 matches – promotion form in anyone's book.
On the back of three successive victories (2-1 at Norwich and then home wins of 2-1 and 2-0 over Villa and Sheffield Wednesday) they will arrive at Molineux confident of giving Wolves a very good game indeed.
Former Walsall boss Smith has certainly been delighted with how his team has done over the festive period.
He said: "Norwich City, Aston Villa, and Sheffield Wednesday are big clubs because of where they have been and the size of their support but they are just Championship teams.
"Each game that we play is going to be tough but we are side who we feel can compete with anyone."
Continue this form and they'll be in the top six sooner rather than later.
Midfielder Ryan Woods said the play-offs are the very real target.
"We're allowed to talk about it," he said. "We've made no secret of it and we believe we're good enough to be around that.
"We've shown what a good team we are and take that into Tuesday and Wolves.
"It has been a good Christmas. It's nine points out of nine and you'd class the teams we beat as big teams and big names. We've averaged two goals a game and nine points."
Nico Yennaris agreed and said the Bees would arrive at Molineux in high spirits.
“On our day, there’s not many teams that will compete with us," he said. "It’s lined up to be a good game there.”
Wolves will make at least one change owing to Danny Batth's three-match suspension for being sent off at Bristol City.
Ryan Bennett will almost certainly come in, while Ivan Cavaleiro is pushing for a start after his game-changing cameo at Ashton Gate.
Predicted line ups
Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Douglas; Cavaleiro, Bonatini, Jota. Subs: Norris, Hause, Miranda, N'Diaye, Gibbs-White, Costa, Enobakhare.
Brentford (4-2-3-1): Bentley; Yennaris, Mepham, Bjelland, Barbet; Woods, McEachran; Jozefzoon, Sawyers, Canos; Vibe.
Key players
Wolves: Ivan Cavaleiro – The Portuguese forward is likely to start after his impressive cameo at Bristol City. With Diogo Jota’s form having taken a slight dip of late it may be up to Cavaleiro to step up.
Brentford: Lasse Vibe – In-form Danish striker who has netted six goals in five matches since the end of November. The 30-year-old had previously failed to score in 11 appearances after taking a while to recover from injury this season. Scored 16 in 36 last season and is eyeing a World Cup spot with Denmark.
Past five meetings
August 26, 2017 (Ch): Brentford 0 Wolves 0
March 14, 2017 (Ch): Brentford 1 (Colin 31) Wolves 2 (Doherty 86, Costa 89)
September 24, 2016 (Ch): Wolves 3 (Teixeira 47, 57, Cavaleiro 90) Brentford 1 (Kaikai 67)
February 23, 2016 (Ch): Brentford 3 (Swift 38, 67, Canos 56) Wolves 0
October 21, 2015 (Ch): Wolves 0 Brentford 2 (Djuricin 17, Hofmann 88)
