Brentford play host to Millwall on Saturday afternoon realistically requiring all three points to remain in the hunt for automatic promotion.
While the Bees are currently nine points adrift of second-placed Watford, opponents Millwall are now focused on trying to achieve a top-eight finish in the Championship standings.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having recorded four successive draws, Brentford went into their fixture with Preston North End knowing that anything other than three points would leave them vulnerable to dropping outside of the top six before the end of the season.
However, Thomas Frank's side responded with one of their most ruthless performances of the season, scoring five times without reply to establish a seven-point gap above Reading.
Still sitting closer to seventh position than they are to Watford, Frank will want to ensure that the Bees' top-six spot does not come under threat during the run-in as they bid to build some momentum ahead of a likely playoff place.
Nevertheless, possessing a game in hand and still having to host the Hornets leaves Brentford with every belief that they can still gatecrash the top two before May 8.
As well as Ivan Toney finally ending a six-week wait for a goal from open play, Frank will have also taken encouragement from five different players getting on the scoresheet at Deepdale.
© Reuters
After a frustrating period during the middle of the campaign, Gary Rowett has spent recent months fighting for his future at The Den.
With five wins from eight fixtures being recorded since the beginning of March, the Lions boss will feel that he deserves another chance in the dugout next season.
However, his team's 3-0 humbling at the hands of goal-shy Swansea City highlighted why Millwall have never been genuine contenders for the playoffs throughout this campaign.
Trailing seventh position by eight points, Millwall will now try to finish ahead of Cardiff City in eighth spot, which would match their effort from last season.
- W
- D
- D
- D
- D
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Having switched to a 3-5-2 formation for the game at Preston, Frank is likely to persist with the same tactics against opposition who use a similar system.
Barring any late fitness issues, there are unlikely to be any changes in personnel with Marcus Forss in line to keep his place alongside Toney in attack.
Despite his contribution from the substitutes' bench, Emiliano Marcondes will have to make do with a place among the replacements.
Rowett will almost certainly rotate his Millwall side, potentially bringing in the likes of Shaun Williams and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
Kenneth Zohore is also an option with Rowett likely to consider dropping Jed Wallace into a role behind a front two.
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Jansson, Norgaard, Pinnock; Rasmussen, Fosu-Henry, Janelt, Jensen, Mbeumo; Forss, Toney
Millwall possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski; Wallace, Pearce, Cooper; McNamara, Kieftenbeld, Williams, Evans, Malone; Wallace, Bodvarsson
We say: Brentford 2-1 Millwall
With little to play for, Millwall can head into this London derby with the freedom to express themselves. Nevertheless, we expect Brentford's added motivation to get them over the line, potentially by the odd goal in three after a tight contest.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Brentford win with a probability of 55.4%. A draw had a probability of 26.1% and a win for Millwall had a probability of 18.5%.
The most likely scoreline for a Brentford win was 1-0 with a probability of 15.84%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (11.92%) and 2-1 (8.9%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (11.81%), while for a Millwall win it was 0-1 (7.85%). The actual scoreline of 0-0 was predicted with a 10.5% likelihood.
