Wolves - Brentford predictions and free betting tips [16/01/2024]

On Tuesday, 16 January, as part of the second leg of the FA Cup's 1/32 final, Wolverhampton will host Brentford on their home ground. Gary O'Neil's team managed to draw 1:1 against the Bees two weeks ago despite spending over 80 minutes of the match with a player less. 

Projected Line-ups

Wolverhampton: Sa; Kilman, Toti, S. Bueno; Semedo, Doyle, Bellegarde, Doherty; Sarabia, Cunha, Neto.
Brentford: Flekken; Zanka, Collins, Pinnock; Roerslev, Jensen, Janelt, Dasilva, Lewis-Potter; Yarmolyuk; Maupay. 

Stadium

The match will be held in Wolverhampton at the Molineux Stadium.  

Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton are forced to replay the 1/32 final of the FA Cup after drawing 1:1 with Brentford in the first match. Joao Gomez was sent off in the ninth minute of the match, and half an hour into the game, Mopay opened the scoring; however, O'Neil's charges restored parity on the scoreboard thanks to Doyle. This time around, the team can count on the support of their fans, especially considering the Wolves' impressive form. In the Premier League, the hosts are comfortably positioned around the midpoint of the league table, and their current 11th place allows them to aim for a spot in the top half of the overall standings.

In the last six rounds, the Wolves only lost once while claiming four victories and one draw. The team's confidence is further bolstered by three consecutive wins - against Chelsea (2:1), Brentford (1:4), and Everton (3:0). Even more importantly, none of the Wolves' last eight matches at Molineux have ended in defeat, and their victory over the Toffees on 30 December was the fourth in their last five home matches. 

Brentford

Brentford were unable to secure a win in front of their own fans in the first match (1:1), therefore they are forced to expend energy and time on a replay. Thomas Frank's charges sit 16th in the Premier League standings, with a game in hand and a three-point lead over the relegation zone. The visitors face an uphill battle in the forthcoming rounds of the national championship, taking into account their recent results: the London team's rough streak continued with losses against Wolverhampton (1:4) before the New Year and Crystal Palace (3:1).

Indeed, the Bees visit Molineux with the goal of avoiding a second consecutive exit from the third round - last year, the Hammers knocked them out. Since their victory over Sunderland in the 2005-06 season, Brentford have yet to knock a Premier League representative out of the FA Cup. 

Head-to-head

The teams have already faced each other twice in the current campaign, both times in London: in the Premier League, Brentford triumphed with a score of 1:4, while in the nation's cup, the teams drew 1:1.  

Match prediction Wolverhampton vs Brentford

Both teams are experiencing personnel problems due to injuries and international tournaments, so external factors - like the support of the stands - could come to the fore. The Bees have regularly slipped up in recent weeks and haven't tasted victory in their last six matches in all competitions. The Wolves, conversely, haven't lost at home in their previous eight matches. Given these circumstances, it's reasonable to bet on a win for the hosts.  

Total prediction

In four of the last five head-to-head encounters, the teams have both scored goals. Even with all their losses, the Londoners are capable of at least scoring once. My prediction is "both teams to score".   

Corner prediction

The Wolves average 5 corners per game, and against Brentford's athletic line-up, they will definitely rely on their high-calibre players. I'm betting on the Wolves to have over 4.5 corners. 

Yellow card prediction

Both teams earn an average of 2.5 yellow cards per game - meaning we're ready for a true cup match battle. My bet is on the total number of cautions to be over 3.5. 

Score prediction

I'm betting on a final score of 2:1 in Wolverhampton's favour.