Premier League side Brentford welcome Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle to the Gtech Community Stadium for an FA Cup third-round tie on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams butt heads for the first time since February 2011 when the Bees beat the Pilgrims 2-0 in League One.
Match preview
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Brentford ended a five-game winless run across all competitions when they cruised to a dominant 5-0 victory away against Premier League basement club Southampton last weekend - their first league triumph on the road this season at the 10th time of asking.
Thomas Frank labelled his team's thrashing of the Saints as one of the "biggest moments" of his six-and-a-half-year tenure with the Bees, who sit 11th in the top-flight standings and only six points behind the top seven.
One of Brentford's standout performers this season has been influential attacker Bryan Mbeumo, who netted a brace against Southampton to increase his Premier League goal tally to 13. The Cameroon international has scored in 10 separate matches this season, which can only be bettered by Mohamed Salah (14) and Alexander Isak (11).
Brentford now turn their attention to the FA Cup and will endeavour to avoid a third successive third-round elimination after losing 3-2 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 2023 replay and 1-0 at home to West Ham United last season.
The Bees, who put together a 10-game unbeaten home run in all competitions before losing their last two, head into their third-round tie with Plymouth have never beaten the Pilgrims in nine previous attempts in the FA Cup (D3 L6), something they will be keen to change on Saturday.
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Since the departure of Wayne Rooney as head coach, Plymouth have made an unbeaten start to 2025, although their winless streak in all competitions has now been extended to 11 games - November 5 was the last time they tasted success (1-0 at home to Portsmouth).
A 2-2 draw with Bristol City on New Year's Day, when a point was rescued thanks to a 91st-minute equaliser, was followed by last weekend's goalless stalemate at Stoke City, and they remain rooted to the foot of the Championship table, albeit only three points adrift of safety.
Plymouth chairman Simon Hallett hopes to be able to announce a new head coach in the "very near future" amid reported interest in former Cercle Brugge boss Miron Muslic. In the meantime, first team coach Kevin Nancekivell and club captain Joe Edwards will continue to lead the team.
Before preparing for a run of three consecutive Championship home games, Plymouth will attempt to advance from the third round of the FA Cup for the fourth time in the last five seasons, and to do so will need to beat Brentford for the first time since December 2003 (2-0 in League One).
However, the Pilgrims head into Saturday's contest having won none of their last 16 FA Cup matches against top-flight opposition since a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion back in February 1984, a year in which they progressed all the way to the semi-finals.
Team News
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Brentford's Ethan Pinnock (hamstring), Aaron Hickey (thigh), Kristoffer Ajer (ankle), Fabio Carvalho (groin), Ben Mee (muscle), Josh Dasilva (knee), Gustavo Nunes (back) and Igor Thiago (infection) all remain unavailable for selection.
However, left-back Rico Henry is in contention to make his first appearance for the senior team since sustaining a serious knee injury in September 2023, although he is not yet ready to play 90 minutes.
Keane Lewis-Potter - who extended his Bees contract until 2031 on Wednesday - has played at left-back in recent weeks, but he could be moved into an advanced role out wide, while the likes of Hakon Valdimarsson, Kim Ji-soo, Yehor Yarmolyuk and Vitaly Janelt could all be handed starts.
As for Plymouth, Joe Edwards, Muhamed Tijani and Mustapha Bundu all remain sidelined with injuries, while Ryan Hardie will be assessed after missing the last game with a shoulder problem.
Callum Wright is available for selection after serving a three-match ban and the attacking midfielder could return to the starting lineup at the expense of Rami Al Hajj.
The Pilgrims announced the loan signing of Polish international left-back Tymoteusz Puchacz on Thursday and have confirmed that their new No.17 has been registered in time to make his debut on Saturday.
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Valdimarsson; Roerslev, Ji-soo, Van den Berg, Henry; Jensen, Janlt, Yarmolyuk; Schade, Wissa, Lewis-Potter
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Hazard; Szucs, Pleguezuelo, Galloway; Sorinola, Randell, Gyabi, Puchacz; Wright, Whittaker; Obafemi
We say: Brentford 4-1 Plymouth Argyle
Brentford will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top this weekend. Taking into account the hosts' impressive home form as well as Plymouth's leaky backline - the worst in the EFL that has conceded 53 goals - we can see the Bees securing safe passage through to the fourth round.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
