Brentford Aims For Victory Against Wolves On Premier League Final Day Despite European Hopes Dwindling

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Brentford's manager, Thomas Frank, is adamant that his team still has much to fight for in their final Premier League match against Wolves, despite their slim chances of securing a European spot. Brentford recently lost 3-2 to Fulham, which, combined with Brighton's victory over Liverpool, makes their path to eighth place challenging. They need a win at Molineux and hope for Brighton's defeat at Tottenham.

The odds are stacked against Brentford, with only an 11.6% chance of finishing eighth according to Opta simulations. They have a 44.9% probability of ending the season in ninth place, which would match their best-ever Premier League finish from the previous year. The team also aims for individual achievements, as both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have scored 19 goals this season.

Frank remains optimistic about the team's prospects. "Everything is on," he stated after the Fulham game. "We will go into the last game. Even if we finish top 10 then it is an unbelievable performance from this club and this team." He emphasised their determination to secure a win against Wolves.

Wolves cannot rise above 14th place but aim to avoid slipping to 17th. Their recent 4-2 loss to Crystal Palace left manager Vitor Pereira frustrated after three consecutive defeats. Pereira stressed the importance of focus and commitment: "We need to play at our level... We have to play with commitment, to play with the team spirit."

Jorgen Strand Larsen has been a standout player for Wolves, scoring seven of his 14 league goals in his last eight matches. His performance since March has been impressive, outscoring players like Eberechi Eze and Wissa.

Key Players and Predictions

For Brentford, both Mbeumo and Wissa have been crucial this season. If they each score at Molineux, they will become the first duo since Salah and Mane in 2018-19 to net 20 or more goals for the same team in one season. Speculation surrounds Mbeumo's future, adding intrigue to his potential final appearance for Brentford.

The match prediction leans towards a draw due to both teams' historical performances on final matchdays. Brentford alternated between wins and losses in their last six seasons' finales, while Wolves have consistently lost their last league game over seven seasons.

Final Day Statistics

Brentford's games this season have seen a total of 121 goals scored (F65 A56), closely following Liverpool and Tottenham's high-scoring matches. Wolves' matches also contributed significantly (F53 A68). This trend suggests a high-scoring draw could be possible on Sunday.

Opta gives Wolves a 35.4% chance of winning against Brentford's slightly higher probability of victory at 39.9%. The likelihood of a draw stands at 24.8%, reflecting the competitive nature expected in this encounter as both teams conclude their seasons with different objectives in mind.