Emirates FA Cup Preview | Brentford (A)
The Game
Brentford v Argyle. Gtech Community Stadium. Saturday, 11 January. 3pm. Emirates FA Cup Round Three.
The Opposition
Brentford are in their fourth season in the Premier League, having reached the English top flight in 2021/22, for the first time in 75 years.
The Bees are 11th in the Premier League table, with 27 points from 20 games. Their record at home is particularly good, with Brentford having won seven, drawn one and lost two. Only leaders Liverpool have a better record. Away from home, Brentford have only won once, but it was their most recent game, a 5-0 win over Southampton.
The Gaffer
Thomas Frank has been in charge of Brentford since October 2018. He originally moved to West London to be the assistant manager to Dean Smith, but on the latter’s dismissal, was given the top job. He took the club to 11th at the end of the season, then to a play-off final the following year, which the Bees lost to Fulham.
In 2020/21, Brentford finished third for the second year in a row, but this time won the play-off final, beating Swansea City. They have since solidified themselves as a comfortable mid-table Premier League side.
Before coming to England, Frank was the boss of Brondby, in the Danish top flight, with whom he finished third and fourth.
Frank’s coaching career, following a short career as an amateur footballer, began in the 1990s, and he worked extensively with the Denmark national team’s age-group teams.
The Squad
Brentford have been free scoring in the Premier League this season, notching the fifth-highest total of goals thus far. Their leading two goalscorers are Bryan Mbeumo and Yoann Wissa.
French-born Mbeumo (below), who has 20 caps for Cameroon, signed for Brentford in 2019 from his first club, Troyes. He has played 223 times, scoring 63 goals, 13 of which have come this season. Wissa, also French-born, and an international for DR Congo, is 28, played for several French teams without much note, then found his feet with Lorient. A move to Brentford in 2019 followed, and though he has been a regular for the past three seasons, 10 in 17 so far is his best return in red and white.
Nathan Collins has played every minute of Brentford’s league fixtures. Formerly of Stoke City, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Irish international Collins, 23, has become a mainstay in the heart of Brentford’s defence, typically beside Dutch central defensive partner Sepp van den Berg.
Recent Meetings
The last time these sides met was in 2010/11, in League One. Brentford won both meetings that season. This will be the 123rd meeting of the sides; only Bristol Rovers have played Argyle more times. Argyle have been drawn against Brentford six times in the FA Cup and have progressed every time.
Tickets
Tickets for this match have sold out.
Collections will be available from the Away Ticket Collection point at Brentford on the day.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will wear their green home kit for this game.
Argyle TV
Due to competition rules, we are unable to sell individual match passes for this fixture. However, Argyle TV subscribers can still enjoy live audio commentary of the match, which will be provided by BBC Radio Devon.
Click here to purchase an Argyle TV subscription.
