* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Manchester United appear to be in a state of turmoil (sound familiar?) after snatching a draw from the jaws of victory when they were two goals up at Villa Park on Saturday.
United put in arguably their best performance under Ralf Rangnick in the first half against Villa and looked to have sealed a crucial victory when Bruno Fernandes put them two goals to the good midway through the second half, but they conspired to throw that lead away within 14 minutes, allowing Villa players to slalom through their defence at will.
The performance was an undoubted improvement on their previous league game against Wolves and their previous away game against Newcastle, however, and Rangnick has something to build on for Wednesday’s trip to Brentford.
Brentford v Manchester United – Wednesday, January 19: 8pm
BT Sport 1
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS
*A Bet Builder with these four best bets pays at approximately 18/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Manchester United to win
Brentford come into this game off the back of two three-goal defeats and in a poor run of form that has seen them lose four of their last five in the league. Given that they hold a 10-point buffer over 18th-placed Norwich, Thomas Frank’s side are in no immediate danger of being pulled into a relegation battle, but alarm bells are surely beginning to sound.
United have a chance to get back on track on Wednesday night before a vital game against West Ham at the weekend.
Both teams to score
Brentford may have failed to score in three of their last five league games, but they have an excellent chance to put that right against a porous Manchester United defence.
After keeping clean sheets in each of their first two league games under Rangnick, United have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last four, conceding five goals against the mighty Newcastle, Burnley, Wolves, and Aston Villa – four clubs who have scored just 80 goals between them this season.
It would have been a lot more had it not been for the heroics of David De Gea, who also ensured that United kept a clean sheet Norwich before Christmas. Brentford, meanwhile, have scored 24 goals in 21 league games this season, with three of those goals coming against Liverpool in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
They have every chance of improving their goalscoring record on Wednesday night but don’t hold much hope of improving their record at the other end. Frank’s side have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight games in the league and it’s difficult to see them keeping out a star-studded United attack, even if it is malfunctioning at the moment.
- LIKE PADDY POWER NEWS? OR MAYBE YOU JUST LIKE TO WHINGE? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN OUR READER SURVEY
Brentford to have four or more shots on target
Manchester United have played three Premier League away games under Rangnick and faced a combined total of 22 shots on goal.
It highlights one of the many issues that United face at present and it is frankly a miracle that Rangnick’s side have managed to claim five points from those three games.
United have faced an average of 5.5 shots on target per game in their six games under Rangnick in the league, while Brentford have recorded 22 in their last six league outings at an average of just under four.
It is not unreasonable to think that they will improve that average on Wednesday night.
Over 11.5 corners
United’s tendency to allow a litany of shots on target tends to translate itself into opposition corners. The Red Devils have faced 33 shots on goal in Rangnick’s first six league games and conceded 32 corners in the same six-game spell.
United face an average of over five corners per game and win an average of almost six, while Brentford have conceded an average just shy of six in their last six league games. A punt at 12 corners represents good value.
Brentford v Man Utd tips
Manchester United to win
Both teams to score
Brentford to have four or more shots on target
Over 11.5 corners
*A Bet Builder with these four best bets pays at approximately 18/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
NOT SURE WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT? CLICK HERE TO LEARN ALL ABOUT WHAT A BET BUILDER IS
FREE BET IF 1 LEG LETS YOU DOWN
If one leg of your 4+ fold Bet Builder fails to land, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Bet Builder Free Bet If 1 Leg Lets You Down per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right now