Brentford host Nottingham Forest at the Gtech Community Stadium, as both teams battle to move away from the Premier League relegation scrap.
Should Crystal Palace lose in the lunchtime kick-off at Arsenal, victory would see Brentford climb up to 14th in the table.
Forest likewise can go 14th if they can take the win in West London.
Team News
Ivan Toney is available for Brentford after he completed an eight-month ban which began in mid-May 2023.
Rico Henry (knee), Christian Norgaard, Bryan Mbeumo (both ankle), Ben Mee (suspension), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Kevin Schade (adductor), Saman Ghoddos, Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa (all international duty) remain absent.
Forest have no fresh injury concerns to report following their extra-time FA Cup Third Round replay victory at Blackpool in midweek.
Ola Aina, Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Cheikhou Kouyate, Moussa Niakhate and Ibrahim Sangare are still all away on international duty at Africa Cup of Nations.
Felipe (muscle), Morgan Gibbs-White (abdonminal), Anthony Elanga (knock), Divock Origi and Taiwo Awoniyi (both groin) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Brentford host Forest at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday 20 January at 5:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Brentford are unbeaten in three Premier League meetings against Nottingham Forest (W1, D2).
- Forest lost their only Premier League trip to Brentford by 2-1 result in April 2023.
- Both teams have scored in each of their last five league meetings, with Thomas Frank’s Bees scoring nine goals to Forest’s six goals in that period.
- Christian Norgaard has been yellow carded in each of his last three league appearances at home for Brentford.
- Forest have claimed four points from five league trips to London-based clubs this season (W1, D1, L3).
Prediction
Despite their poor form which can be attributed largely to their injury crisis, Brentford will be relieved to have Toney back because he is going to be key to their survival hopes and having a home game upon his return will only motivate him and his teammates ever more.
Thomas Frank’s Bees however will be disappointed to have crashed out of the FA Cup in extra-time after having led twice at Wolves in their midweek replay, but there are positives to take from that game given the strong strength of the line-up when could of just fielded fringe players.
Forest meanwhile must treat the remainder of their season as a relegation fight rather than hope for the best with a possible points deduction dangling over their head, and they looked pretty solid at Blackpool aside from two defensive errors which took them to extra-time.
Fitness therefore will be key in West London and with Toney back up front plus an additional 24 hours rest compared to Forest, I do fancy Brentford to get the win because the home fans will surely create an electric atmosphere which the players can feed off if tighten up defensively.
Prediction: Bentford 2-1 Nottingham Forest