Back buzzing Brentford to beat Bristol City

English Football League
Kick-offs 3pm Saturday

Brentford v Bristol City
Brentford are one of the best-run clubs in the Sky Bet Championship and they can respond to the departure of highly-rated manager Dean Smith to Aston Villa by beating Bristol City at Griffin Park.

Losing Smith has not come as a complete shock to the Bees, who are always planning ahead.

They have appointed a ready-made replacement in Thomas Frank, who joined their coaching staff in December 2016 with the intention of ensuring a smooth transition in the event of Smith moving on.

Frank has management experience, having been in charge at Brondby from June 2013 to March 2016, leading the Danes to fourth and third place in the table.

Managers and key players come and go at Griffin Park but Brentford continue to recruit well.

They are seventh and have scope to go higher if converting their dominance into more goals - they have won the shot count in nine of 12 league games this season.

Their 18-point tally is slightly disappointing but the market expects them to improve as Brentford are 2-1 fifth-favourites in the promotion betting.

Bristol City are two points below the Bees but are 16-1 to go up.
Last season Lee Johnson's men finished eight points adrift of the playoff places but there was a sharp decline after the turn of the year with the Robins registering only four wins in 21 matches.

They have been inconsistent this term and their chances at Brentford are hampered by injuries to their top two goalkeepers, Frank Fielding and Niki Maenpaa.

Johnson has considered bringing in an emergency loan signing but will hand a full EFL debut to 22-year-old Max O'Leary.

The club think highly of O'Leary but he faces a tough afternoon against the free-scoring Bees, who are solid odds-on favourites.

Recommendation
Brentford
3pts 4-5 bet365

Shrewsbury v Sunderland
Sunderland have had a solid opening quarter of the Sky Bet League One season but there is a four-point gap between themselves and the automatic promotion places and they will be anxious to close it by beating struggling Shrewsbury at the New Meadow.

As the biggest club in the division, Sunderland will feel they should challenge strongly for the title.

However, they have had to recover from the hangover of back-to-back relegations and been hampered by a constant stream of injuries.

Under the circumstances a return of 23 points from 12 games is not too shabby and the international break has enabled manager Jack Ross to get back some of his walking wounded.

He had 14 players unavailable when the Black Cats won 3-1 at home to Carlisle in an EFL Trophy tie but the situation has eased considerably with Josh Maja (ankle), Jerome Sinclair, Lynden Gooch (both hamstring) and Lee Cattermole (fatigue) joining the squad this weekend.

Sunderland also have the benefit of a large travelling support and look worthy favourites to pile on the misery for the Shrews, who have not been out of the bottom ten all season.

Shrewsbury have put in plenty of competitive performances but lacked a cutting edge and have scored just 11 goals in 13 games.

They haven't lost at home since the opening day but are crying out to be opposed this weekend with Sunderland looking a solid draw-no- bet wager.

Recommendation
Sunderland draw no bet
2pts 17-20 Hills

Yeovil v Tranmere
Tranmere are on a three-game winning sequence in Sky Bet League Two and they can extend it by beating Yeovil at Huish Park.

Successive promotions look a possibility for Tranmere, who are defending solidly and benefiting from the clinical finishing of eight-goal striker James Norwood, the division's second-top marksman.

Norwood was suspended for their last road trip but other players stepped up as Tranmere won 4-3 at Morecambe.

Yeovil are in for a tough match and will be understrength with key centre-back Omar Sowunmi injured and holding midfielder Sessi D'Almeida suspended.

Recommendation
Tranmere draw no bet
3pts 10-11 Betfair, Betfred, Paddy Power

Oldham v Port Vale
Oldham have gone four matches without a win in League Two but they can get their promotion push back on track by beating injury-hit Port Vale at Boundary Park.

Confidence in the Oldham camp has been restored by a 4-1 success away to Bradford in the EFL Trophy and they should not be fearing the Valiants, who lost 6-2 at home to Lincoln last Saturday.

Vale will definitely be without injured left-back Cristian Montano and midfielder Manny Oyeleke and suspended striker Ricky Miller.

Recommendation
Oldham
2pts Evs Coral

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