* 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.
These two have been here before. Brentford made it to the Championship playoff final last season only to underperform and lose to local rivals Fulham 2-1 to add insult to injury after blowing strong automatic promotion hopes.
For Swansea, the last time they played in this game was exactly a decade ago when Brendan Rodgers led a side featuring the likes of Garry Monk, Joe Allen and Angel Rangel to the top flight thanks to a 4-2 win over Reading. That was a while ago, but they’ll be desperate to repeat the trick here.
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The bigger picture is that Brentford finished one place above Swansea in the table with seven points more in 3rd, missing out on automatic by four points. The Bees then edged past Bournemouth thanks to a thrilling 3-2 aggregate win that had everything in the semis.
Swansea also shaded it against Barnsley but they always looked pretty comfortable in their 2-1 aggregate win and were always ahead in the game. Both sides have had a decent rest and will be ready to go full throttle here. But what are our three best bets for the Championship playoff final 2020/21?
Saturday 3pm: Brentford v Swansea
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Safe Bet: Under 2.5 Goals
Everything is pointing towards this being a tight and nervy affair, as you’d expect in a game of this magnitude. Both games in the regular season between these two ended with Unders clicking.
Unders has landed in six of Brentford’s last eight fixtures, with an average of just under 1.9 goals per game. For Swansea it’s landed in five of their last eight and they’ve witnessed 19 goals, four more than Brentford, over the same period, at 2.37 per game.
This is The Championship and anything can happen, but the two regular season games, coupled with the frequency that this selection has landed recently for these two, means Under 2.5 Goals is the way the stats are pointing in this game. It feels like a must for any Bet Builders this weekend.
Vale Play: The Draw
This is a tough game to call and the signs are pointing towards a Brentford win. They’re in the better form of the two with five wins in their last six and the superior final league position. However, I think they’re going to be a bit scarred from the disappointments of last season and they do have a bit of a tendency of performing when the pressure’s off and crumbling when it’s really, really on.
Swansea have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six and had a much easier looking semi final to make it to Wembley. Their form is poor and I can’t back them to win inside the 90. I’ve outlined by reasons why I just can’t get fully behind The Bees above.
Instead, I think the value might be in The Draw in this game. Both regular-season games between these two finished 1-1 (more on that later) and, with Swansea struggling to find form and my lingering doubts over Brentford, I think this one might be heading for extra time.
Long Shot: Correct Score – 1-1
We’ve already had two 1-1s between these two and I just have a hunch we’re going to see a third. Both of these side’s most recent stalemates in competitive action ended by this score line (though Brentford’s was seven games ago) and the odds are pretty appealing.
Brentford have scored in six of the last seven, conceding in four of those. The Swans have netted in seven of their last nine, keeping just three clean sheets in that process. I think both are going to find away through again without landing the killer blow within the 90. Our long shot here is Correct Score: 1-1.
Tips for Brentford v Swansea
Safe Bet: Under 2.5 Goals
Vale Play: The Draw
Long Shot: Correct Score – 1-1
* 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.
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