da pinup bet： Brentford have the toughest task of any side in this weekend’s FA Cup action. The Bees must travel to Stamford Bridge and beat the best side in England right now, Chelsea, if they are to progress into the next round.
da betcris： Antonio Conte’s men have been imperious in the Premier League this season and are currently eight points ahead of second place. A league title in the Italian’s first season at the club looks like a certainty.
Mid-table in the Championship, it’s safe to say Brentford aren’t having quite as good a season. They have off the field problems too with star striker Scott Hogan having not featured since 2nd January.
It all means that Brentford have an almost impossible task ahead of them, but that’s why we love the FA Cup. Surprises are always possible whether through complacency on Chelsea’s part or just a supreme Brentford performance.
Who will be the key men if they are to cause an upset? Here are our THREE Brentford players that Chelsea must be wary of this weekend…
Lasse Vibe
In Scott Hogan’s absence, Brentford manager Dean Smith has called on experienced Danish striker Lasse Vibe to step up to the plate and deliver some goals for the Bees.
That’s been a success so far and Vibe has scored two goals in his last three appearances, including one against the much fancied Newcastle United.
If Smith opts to exclude Hogan once again for the trip to Chelsea, then Lasse Vibe is by far their biggest goal threat. If the Bees can supply him with a chance or two, he has every chance of sticking one away and giving the Blues a real test.
Romaine Sawyers
Romaine Sawyers has made the step up to Championship football from League One look easy in his debut season at Brentford and is the man most likely to create something for his side at Stamford Bridge.
He scored in the last round, part of a 5-1 victory over Eastleigh, and will be the main attacking presence from midfield against Chelsea. That’s a tough shift for the 25-year-old, especially if Conte opts to field a team close to full strength.
With four assists and a goal in the Championship this season he’s shown he can contribute directly to Brentford’s cause and will be hoping to capture the form that saw him named in last season’s League One Team of the Year.
In potentially the biggest game of his career, he could be inspired to produce a bit of magic.
John Egan
Perhaps Brentford’s biggest hope of getting a result at Stamford Bridge will be shutting out Chelsea at the other end, rather than outscoring them in an attacking battle.
To that end, Dean Smith will turn to John Egan, who has probably been Brentford’s most consistent player this season in any position.
Like Sawyers, he’s made the step up from League One with aplomb, often contributing massively to earning draws and wins for Brentford this season.
He also has the ability to bang in the odd goal too, scoring three this season including a double against Ipswich early in the campaign.
If Brentford can force a draw at Stamford Bridge and bring Chelsea back to their own patch then that would be a fantastic achievement. We’ve seen that sides can frustrate Conte’s men this season and while they’ve usually eventually found a way to win, anything can happen if the Italian manager names a rotated side.