Aston Villa host Brentford in the Championship on Wednesday night with both sides looking to remain unbeaten after good starts to the season.
The Bees are a shorter price for promotion, with Dean Smith’s side available at 5/2 (3.5) with SportPesa to be a Premier League club in 12 months, while their hosts are 16/5 (4.2) in the same market.
Both teams currently sit on seven points after three league games, but this match represents the toughest test either have faced so far.
Latest odds
Villa are 6/4 (2.5) favourites here to attain a 26th win from Steve Bruce’s 44th home game in charge.
GettyBrentford, who dominated in their 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out, are 37/20 (2.85) to gain another three points here.
The last two Villa Park meetings between these sides have ended in draws and a repeat is 47/20 (3.35).
Team News
Of Villa’s two new goalkeepers, Andre Moreira has thus far looked the more impressive and could replace Orjan Nyland, while Conor Hourihane might start in midfield. Strikers Keinan Davis and Scott Hogan are injured.
Ryan Woods has been unable to reclaim his place in Brentford’s side due to the form of Josh McEachran and Lewis MacLeod, but left-back Rico Henry and forward Emiliano Marcondes are both injured.
Maupay to strike?
An impressive 71 per cent of Neal Maupay’s shots have been on target, a higher ratio than any striker in the Championship who has scored more than two goals, and the Frenchman is a tempting 7/4 (2.75) to bag anytime.
Alternatively, wide forward Sergi Canos has taken 11 shots this season – only four Championship players have taken more – and might be due to add to his tally of one goal, which he is 13/5 (3.6) to do here.
Preview and predictions
Our best bet though is the 23/4 (6.75) on a Brentford win with over 1.5 goals, which has paid out in all three of their wins in all competitions this season.
After going ahead, the west Londoners tend to continue to probe for more goals and could get them against a Villa side that has thus far looked defensively unstable.
Brentford to win with Over 1.5 goals 23/4 (6.75) for a 1pt stake with SportPesa