Brentford v Cheltenham preview
Tuesday 28 August 2018 11:37, UK
Brentford will once again be missing top-scorer Neal Maupay for the Carabao Cup second-round clash at home to Cheltenham on Tuesday night.
Maupay serves the second of a three-game stamping ban and manager Dean Smith must decide whether to continue with teenager Marcus Forss up front after a modest debut in the 1-0 defeat at Blackburn.
Sergi Canos, Lewis MacLeod and Josh McEachran were all rested for that match and may be restored. Rotation at the back is still possible, with Julian Jeanvier, Tom Field and Mads Bech Sorensen in the frame.
Robins caretaker manager Russell Milton has promised to choose a strong side after kicking off his tenure with a win at Cambridge. Milton admitted some players were feeling sore after that match but will assess them again before settling on a team.
Chris Hussey is unlikely to be risked after aggravating a groin issue and Josh Debayo stands by. Right-back Sean Long remains out.
Opta stats
Brentford's only win in six previous meetings with Cheltenham in all competitions (D1 L4) was in their most recent encounter, a 2-1 win at Griffin Park in the League Cup first round in August 2010.
Cheltenham's biggest win in the League Cup to date was their 5-0 hammering of Brentford in August 2005.
Brentford have lost their last three home League Cup matches, with one of those defeats coming against League Two opposition (0-4 v Oxford in August 2015).
Brentford are unbeaten in their last seven home games in all competitions (W4 D3), and will be looking to win three on the bounce at Griffin Park for the first time since April 2017 (four in a row).
Cheltenham have lost all seven of their previous League Cup second round ties, going out of the competition at this stage in each of the last two seasons.
Don Goodman's prediction
I like Brentford and I really like Dean Smith. I think he's a high-calibre coach that improves players that play under him and they play a really attractive brand of football. It's hard to make a case for Cheltenham regardless of the fact that Brentford will probably rotate.
The sacking of Gary Johnson last week was a real shock but then, typically, they won at the weekend in the first game after his departure and only time will tell if that's going to be the right move or not. Nonetheless, it's hard to see them making any impact on Brentford, who do like to score goals.
Don predicts: 4-1 (16/1 with Sky Bet)
