Brentford will be looking to win in the Championship for the first time since February 8 when they welcome Sheffield Wednesday to Griffin Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Bees are without a victory in their last five in the league but still sit fifth in the table, nine points above 12th-placed Sheffield Wednesday on the same number of matches (36).

Match preview

Brentford's hopes of finishing in an automatic promotion spot are quite possibly over considering that they are now 11 points off second-placed Leeds United with just 10 games left.

The Bees have not triumphed in the Championship since beating Middlesbrough on February 8, sharing the points in four of their last five matches, including a 2-2 draw away to Cardiff City last weekend.

Thomas Frank's side are currently fifth in the Championship table, three points clear of seventh-placed Bristol City, showing that their poor form could well cost them a playoff spot.

There is simply no downplaying the importance of this weekend's contest to Brentford, particularly as their next match after this one is away to third-placed Fulham on February 13.

Sheffield Wednesday have won the last two meetings between the two teams, though, including a 2-1 success when they locked horns at Hillsborough towards the start of December.

The Owls were in FA Cup action against Manchester City on Wednesday night, suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Premier League champions as they bowed out of the competition.

Garry Monk's side also lost 3-1 at home to Derby County in the Championship last weekend, making it three losses in their last five in England's second tier.

Sheffield Wednesday have actually only picked up two league victories in 2020 and have gradually dropped down the table in recent weeks, currently occupying 12th spot with 48 points from their 36 matches.

Monk's team are eight points off the playoffs and therefore it is difficult to imagine them launching a challenge at this stage, although a victory over Brentford this weekend would leave the fans dreaming of a late push.

Brentford Championship form: WDDDLD

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form: DLLDWL
Sheffield Wednesday form (all competitions): LLDWLL

Team News

Sheffield Wednesday will again be without Moses Odubajo, Adam Reach and Massimo Luongo, while Kieran Lee and Julian Borner are doubts having been replaced against Man City.

Jacob Murphy and Kadeem Harris should again start in the wide areas for the Owls, with Steven Fletcher and Fernando Forestieri operating in the final third of the field.

Brentford are still unable to call upon a number of first-team players with Shandon Baptiste, Mathias Jensen, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Pontus Jansson, Ellery Balcombe, Josh Clarke, Nikos Karelis and Sergi Canos all out.

It would not be a surprise to see Frank select the same XI that started against Cardiff last time out, with Emiliano Marcondes again operating in the middle of the park.

Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma and Bryan Mbeumo will continue in the final third of the field.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Dawson; Palmer, Lees, Iorfa, Fox; Murphy, Bannan, Pelupessy, Harris; Fletcher, Forestieri

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Dalsgaard, Racic, Pinnock, Henry; Norgaard, Dasilva, Marcondes; Benrahma, Watkins, Mbeumo

We say: Brentford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Brentford are in desperate need of a win during a vital stage of the season, and we fancy the Bees to pick up all three points against a Sheffield Wednesday side that played a tough 90 minutes on Wednesday night.