This Championship match sees surprise automatic promotion chasers Huddersfield Town travel to Brentford who seem destined for mid-table mediocrity this season.
Although Brentford sit in 12th and a huge 15 points off the play-offs, they are actually on a really good run of form at the moment with no defeats in their last four, coming out on top in three of those matches.
Manager Dean Smith has always had a philosophy of attacking football and that has certainly been the case with his side this season with 54 goals scored – more than any of the four teams currently occupying the play-off spots – whilst they have also found the back of the net 20 times in their last eight outings. However, this means that they are often exposed at the back and the Bees have still only kept one clean sheet in 2017, conceding 16 in their last seven games.
Home form has been good for the Bees in the last few matches with no defeats in their last three and just one loss at Griffin Park since the end of November. However, the defence is still a concern on home soil with just one clean sheet in their last five.
It looked like Brighton and Newcastle were nailed-on for automatic promotion a few months ago but, with Huddersfield’s excellent run of 19 points from their last eight games (highest in the division), they are now just six points off 2nd with a game in hand.
The Terriers play an exciting style of football under David Wagner which means goals are pretty much guaranteed, as demonstrated by the fact that they in each of their nine outings in the Championship. Although they recently conceded three against Newcastle, Huddersfield have improved defensively and have kept two clean sheets in their last four league games.
Huddersfield’s last away match ended in a 5-1 drubbing by Manchester City in the FA Cup, however, prior to that, they were unbeaten in four and overall have the fifth-best away record in the Championship with 27 points taken from 17 matches.
Although both of these sides are on good runs at the moment, Huddersfield should come out on top here. The Terriers have a much stronger motivation to win than Brentford whilst it also goes without saying that they have a better squad. Backing the visitors in their current mood is certainly advisable at 13/8.
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