[Football- England 'Championship'] 12.9/ 13:30 Birmingham- Brentford
Posted: 12 Sep 2020 10:46
[Football- England 'Championship'] 12.9/ 13:30 Birmingham- Brentford
The Championship action continues on Saturday with the televised game being shown at 12:30pm BST when Birmingham face Brentford at St Andrew's. Both teams endured campaigns that ended in disappointment last season and will be hoping for going a step better this time around. Can either side get things off to a winning start or will we see both teams cancelling each other out?
Birmingham have long been a side that appear intent on self destruction. Owners Trillion Trophy Asia have already dismissed a number of high-profile and capable managers including Gary Rowett, Harry Redknapp, and Garry Monk preventing any sense of progress. Aitor Karanka has now been tasked with taking the Blues to the promised land and he's wasted no time in bringing in new faces. Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge from Cardiff, left back George Friend from Middlesbrough, midfielder Jon Toral from Hull, winger Ivan Sanchez from Elche, forward Jonathan Leko from West Brom, and midfielder Adam Clayton from Middlesbrough have come in to boost the ranks. The only major departure being the hot prospect Jude Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund. Even with those additions, Birmingham are going to need every bit of Karanka's defensive nous to tighten up their back-line and defy many pundits who feel mid-table mediocrity is the best this club can hope for.
Brentford had looked like a side ready for the Premier League last season. Unfortunately, Thomas Frank's side missed several opportunities to pip West Brom to the second automatic promotion spot and eventually lost to Fulham in the play-off final. Preparations for this season have taken a blow with star striker Ollie Watkins departing to Aston Villa for £28 million. This transfer wasn't exactly a surprise so the Bees had already acted to bring in his replacement in the shape of former Peterborough front man Ivan Toney. Frank will be delighted to still have Said Benrahma and Bryan Mbeumo on his books but for how long? The signing of centre back Charlie Goode has also been made in an attempt to shore up that defence.
The elephant in the room for this game is how Brentford will adapt to life after Watkins. It's not easy to replace 25 league goals at the drop of a hat. Will Toney score that many in his first season back playing at this level? It seems unlikely. So where will the other goals come from? Or will Frank be hoping to keep more out at the other end? Birmingham will be a difficult side to play this season. Karanka is notoriously progressive with his style of play. I think it's still too early for Karanka to have Birmingham playing the way he'd like so I think Brentford should sneak this one.
2 @1,90 Bet365
FT 1:0
The Championship action continues on Saturday with the televised game being shown at 12:30pm BST when Birmingham face Brentford at St Andrew's. Both teams endured campaigns that ended in disappointment last season and will be hoping for going a step better this time around. Can either side get things off to a winning start or will we see both teams cancelling each other out?
Birmingham have long been a side that appear intent on self destruction. Owners Trillion Trophy Asia have already dismissed a number of high-profile and capable managers including Gary Rowett, Harry Redknapp, and Garry Monk preventing any sense of progress. Aitor Karanka has now been tasked with taking the Blues to the promised land and he's wasted no time in bringing in new faces. Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge from Cardiff, left back George Friend from Middlesbrough, midfielder Jon Toral from Hull, winger Ivan Sanchez from Elche, forward Jonathan Leko from West Brom, and midfielder Adam Clayton from Middlesbrough have come in to boost the ranks. The only major departure being the hot prospect Jude Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund. Even with those additions, Birmingham are going to need every bit of Karanka's defensive nous to tighten up their back-line and defy many pundits who feel mid-table mediocrity is the best this club can hope for.
Brentford had looked like a side ready for the Premier League last season. Unfortunately, Thomas Frank's side missed several opportunities to pip West Brom to the second automatic promotion spot and eventually lost to Fulham in the play-off final. Preparations for this season have taken a blow with star striker Ollie Watkins departing to Aston Villa for £28 million. This transfer wasn't exactly a surprise so the Bees had already acted to bring in his replacement in the shape of former Peterborough front man Ivan Toney. Frank will be delighted to still have Said Benrahma and Bryan Mbeumo on his books but for how long? The signing of centre back Charlie Goode has also been made in an attempt to shore up that defence.
The elephant in the room for this game is how Brentford will adapt to life after Watkins. It's not easy to replace 25 league goals at the drop of a hat. Will Toney score that many in his first season back playing at this level? It seems unlikely. So where will the other goals come from? Or will Frank be hoping to keep more out at the other end? Birmingham will be a difficult side to play this season. Karanka is notoriously progressive with his style of play. I think it's still too early for Karanka to have Birmingham playing the way he'd like so I think Brentford should sneak this one.
2 @1,90 Bet365
FT 1:0