Will the Potters advance to the quarter-finals?
Stoke City, meanwhile, are experiencing a relapse into old times. After a strong start to the season, the Potters from Stoke-on-Trent have folded and squandered the momentum in the Championship. Meanwhile, Stoke have even slipped out of a starting place for the promotion play-offs after three defeats in a row.
In their current form crisis, the Potters now also face Brentford FC in the last 16 of the EFL Cup this week.
Stoke City have only lost one home game so far this season. Across all competitions, the Potters have a record of 7-1-1 at home this season. It is therefore not out of the question that Stoke, as a second division team, will eliminate the visitors from London, who are meanwhile playing in the English top flight.
In this century, the Potters have yet to lose a single home game against Brentford. Although the visitors have the stronger squad – assuming Brentford go into the EFL Cup with their best line-up – odds of 2.38 are being offered on Stoke vs Brentford for a tip on the Londoners.
Stoke – Statistics & current form
Stoke City in free fall? Just a few weeks ago, the Potters were one of the Championship’s most likely promotion contenders, but now the traditional Stoke-on-Trent club have slipped to ninth in the standings.
While the defeat against Bournemouth is still bearable, the results against Millwall and especially Sheffield United were by no means pretty. After all, Stoke City took the lead in both games and still missed out on a point.
The Potters conceded two goals in the closing stages against Sheffield United, while at Millwall they squandered a half-time lead after the break. At home, however, there is no reason for head coach Michael O’Neill’s team to be disgruntled. After all, the Potters are brimming with confidence with their current home record this season.
Enough potential to beat Brentford FC?
At the Bet365 Stadium, Stoke City’s only loss this season came in their last home game against Bournemouth. The clash with the current league leaders was a match of equals for long periods and the Potters had a realistic chance of taking three points.
Previously, Stoke City had a record of 7-1-0 in eight home games, including wins over Premier League relegated West Brom. With the Potters also boasting a good home record against their upcoming cup opponents, it would be no surprise if Stoke reached the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup for the second year in a row.
Last season, the Potters were defeated by London Spurs. Before that, Stoke had already eliminated two Premier League clubs, Wolves and Aston Villa. If Stoke are successful in beating a Premier League club in the League Cup this season, attractive odds will be paid out on the home side in the Stoke vs Brentford match.
Predicted Stoke line-up:
Davies – Ostigard, Batth, Chester – Duhaney, Sawyers, Thompson, Vrancic, Ince – Fletcher, Campbell
Last games played by Stoke:
Championship
10/23 2021 – Millwall 2 – 1 Stoke
10/19 2021 – Stoke 0 – 1 Bournemouth
10/16 2021 – Sheffield United 2 – 1 Stoke
10/01 2021 – Stoke 1 – 0 West Bromwich Albion
09/28 2021 – Preston 1 – 1 Stoke
Brentford – Statistics & current form
Brentford are one of the positive surprises of this year’s Premier League. The Bees have already established themselves as a first division club – at least that is the interim conclusion after nine match days – and are twelfth in the table with twelve points on the account. Brentford have suffered three defeats in nine games in the English top flight so far this season.
However, two of the three league defeats came on the last two matchdays. Among them was the most recent home defeat against Leicester City. Before that, Brentford FC lost at home to the London leaders. In the EFL Cup, the next setback may be imminent. After all, Stoke City are not exactly the Bees’ favourite opponents.
Brentford FC lost five of their last six away games in Stoke-on-Trent. Among them was last season’s defeat, where the Bees even conceded three goals. Speaking of goals conceded, the team’s showpiece continues to be their strong defensive bulwark, as it was last season.
Is Brentford’s defensive bulwark keeping the Stoke attack at bay?
There have been seven goals conceded in the last four Premier League games. Before that, however, the defensive bulwark left a strong impression. After all, there were only three goals conceded in the first seven competitive games of the 2021/22 season.
If this is continued and head coach Thomas Frank at least dispenses with rotation in the back line, it is obvious that a prediction of under 2.5 pays off in Stoke vs. Brentford. The Bees have not lost a single competitive game away from home this season. Season and competition-wide, there has only been one defeat in the last eleven away games.
Due to injuries, Frank will probably not have seven players available for the cup match. It would therefore be more than surprising if the Bees’ head coach nevertheless uses his key players in the EFL Cup in the current personnel situation.
Predicted Brentford line-up:
Fernandez – Goode, Zanka, Ajer – Roerslev, Bidstrup, Janelt, Maghoma, Stevens – Ghoddos, Forss
Last matches played by Brentford:
Premier League
10/24 2021 – Brentford 1 – 2 Leicester
10/16 2021 – Brentford 0 – 1 Chelsea London
10/03 2021 – West Ham 1 – 2 Brentford
09/25 2021 – Brentford 3 – 3 Liverpool FC
Carabao Cup
09/21 2021 – Brentford 7 – 0 Oldham
Stoke – Brentford Direct comparison / H2H balance
This is the 26th time the two clubs have met. Stoke City lead the direct comparison against Brentford FC with a record of 11-8-6. The Potters have won the most matches at home. Stoke have won five of their last six home games against Brentford. Last year there was even an offensive spectacle for the usually defensive-minded club.
Surprisingly, bets on over 2.5 goals in the match paid off in the second leg as well. Nevertheless, we think it is more than daring to make another prediction on a high-scoring encounter in the League Cup between Stoke and Brentford.
Stoke – Brentford Tip
Although Brentford FC conceded their second defeat in a row in the Premier League, the Bees cannot complain about their start to the season. After all, the promoted team from London also managed to gain a point against Liverpool. The team that last swept Manchester United out of Old Trafford with 5:0.
If the Londoners continue their strong start to the season, Brentford FC will probably not have to worry about staying in the league. Halfway through the first half of the season, the Bees are already eight points clear of the relegation places. Brentford can increase their lead in the upcoming six-point game against Burnley FC. For now, though, the League Cup is on the agenda.
The Bees are expected to fire up the rotation machine. Although the use of regular players cannot be ruled out, reserves will probably also be used for the most part. The high odds on a home win for Stoke therefore have value and are especially recommended for the betting community that is keen on the underdog.
We place our Stoke vs. Brentford bet at good odds on “More goals in the 2nd half” with a stake of five units. The Potters have drawn eight of their 14 home games in the Championship this season – mostly without goals – before the end of the second half. It’s quite possible that in the League Cup match against the Bees, too, the goals will only come in the second half.
