After a dramatic final day of the Championship season, the play-off race came to an end. For the first leg of the Championship play-offs, Swansea City host Brentford.
Swansea managed to beat the odds for sixth place after beating Reading 4-1, leapfrogging Nottingham Forest, who were beaten 4-1 by Stoke City. Brentford missed two huge chances to gain automatic promotion, after back to back defeats to Stoke and Barnsley. The Bees finished third and therefore will play at home in the second leg.
Brentford Travel to Swansea City in First Leg of Play-Off Semi-Finals
Recent Form
The Swans will be in high spirits after pinching sixth place in remarkable style. Steve Cooper’s side had been out of the top six since Gameweek 28, but managed to sneak in on the final day of the Championship season ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference.
With just one defeat in six coming to champions Leeds United, the Swans are showing good form heading into the first leg.
Brentford were unable to take advantage of West Bromwich Albion’s slip-ups and have had to settle for a play-off place. Before the defeats to Stoke and Barnsley, Brentford had been on an impressive eight-game winning streak. The Bees will be aiming to rediscover this form and shake off any disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion.
Team News
There are no new injuries or suspensions for either team. Swansea will still be without on-loan goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
Long-term absentee Sergi Canos returned to action for the Bees against Barnsley. Thomas Frank will, therefore, have a full strength squad to pick from.
Head to Head
In both previous fixtures against each other this season, Brentford came out victorious. The Bees won 3-1 at Griffin Park and also picked up a 3-0 win in Swansea. This should give Bees fans hope knowing they have already beaten the Swans twice.
However, prior to this season, Swansea had won their previous seven games against Brentford.
Swansea will be feeling confident with nothing to lose going into the opener, however, Brentford have proved they are fully capable of beating any team after their impressive run which brought them so close to automatic promotion.
Prediction: Swansea City 2-2 Brentford
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