Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol step up as Man City big guns get much-needed rest
If Manchester City do pull off a miraculous “Double Treble” this season then Pep Guardiola may look back on this weekend as one of those significant staging posts in the march to history.
It has been such a gruelling season that his midfield linchpin, Rodri, was practically begging for a rest going into this game against Luton Town.
Rodri got his wish, and Guardiola was delighted to see his replacement, Mateo Kovacic, score a wondrous volley that put City 2-0 in front and effectively ensured a stress free final 25 minutes during which the champions scored three times and the manager could withdraw Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
Indeed, the biggest takeaway bar a victory that swept City to the top of the Premier League for the first time outright and overnight since November was the invaluable rest afforded the big hitters on whom so much hope rests between now and June 1. That and the return to the substitutes’ bench of a couple of key defenders in Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake.
Rodri aside, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish all sat this one out while John Stones was left out of the squad altogether after reporting “some niggles” in the wake of Tuesday’s 3-3 quarter-final, first leg draw against Real Madrid but should be fine for Wednesday’s clash against the La Liga leaders at the Etihad Stadium, according to Guardiola.
Real Madrid had nine days’ rest before the first leg. City went into it off the back of three gruelling Premier League games in a week so the opportunity to give key men a break here should not be underestimated, particularly with Real resting five of their likely starting XI, against Mallorca, the same day.
Twelve games stand between City and a potential shot at immortality by becoming the first English club ever to win two Trebles – and in successive seasons at that – and Guardiola will be buoyed that Wednesday’s game is at home. This win extended City’s unbeaten record to 41 matches and they will match a 103-year-old club record should they overcome Real to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the fourth consecutive campaign.
“We spoke with the players about how incredible it is to be here [in this position] again,” Guardiola said. “Try to extend it one week more. They know if we drop points we have no chance.”
Fair play to Luton. The scoreline and statistics point to a completely one-sided game, and it certainly ended that way with City overwhelming them in the closing stages. But until Kovacic created some breathing space with a beautiful finish midway through the second period Rob Edwards’ side had dug in, packed men behind the ball and provided the most stubborn resistance having refused to cave in despite conceding after just 66 seconds.
With three of their final five league games at Kenilworth Road, just a point from safety and a quite brilliant support behind them, Luton will believe they can stay up. They are certainly unlikely to come under the sort of pressure they had to sustain against City from the outset and Edwards, robbed of most of his first-choice defence, will hope to get bodies back for the run-in.
Edwards admitted he had almost resigned himself to defeat before kick-off and when Haaland’s sliced volley deflected in off the face of Daiki Hashioka with barely a minute on the clock he must have feared the worst. They did not wilt, though, instead eventually succumbing to the sheer weight of pressure City applied.
Chances came and went but it was not until Julian Alvarez played a short corner to Jeremy Doku and clipped the return ball over to Kovacic that the Croatia midfielder rattled into the roof of the net from just inside the penalty area that City took the game away from a tired Luton. In addition to a measured showing from Kovacic, Guardiola was pleased to see another Croat impressing. Josko Gvardiol has not had an easy first season but he has stepped up a level in recent weeks and, just days after scoring a screamer against Real, he unleashed another right foot rocket here to add some gloss to the scoreline. Haaland had added a third from the penalty spot after Doku was fouled before Doku claimed the fourth goal.
“He has improved a lot,” Guardiola said of Gvardiol. “In some periods he was confused and lost a lot of balls but he got incredibly the message and is playing really good.”
Premier League clockwatch, As it happened...
05:54 PM BST
Brentford boss Frank reacts
It feels so good. Nine games we’ve been without a win and I’ve just been saying to the lads ‘please don’t do that to me or yourself again’.
Everyone was talking about finals. I didn’t do that about this game. It was not a final but this is so important. Today was not through the roof but I think it was a good performance.
This has definitely been the most challenging season. Injuries, actually performing quite good, Ivan’s been banned...all of that. It’s been tough but it just reminds you why it is the best league in the world. It’s so difficult.
05:47 PM BST
Wolves boss O’Neil reacts
It was a good game, a hard fought game. You can see Forest are probably in a stronger moment than us with the way they finished the game, but a draw is probably a fair result. Forest will be disappointed not to win it late on at home with the territory they had, although they did not test Sa too much.
The two goals we gave away were disappointing. Jose Sa will be disappointed with the first goal, a soft header into the middle of the net, I think the bounce deceived him slightly. That shouldn’t result in a goal in a Premier League game. Second goal comes out of nothing. Long ball we don’t deal with.
05:35 PM BST
Brighton boss De Zerbi reacts
Fair result. We didn’t deserve to win and we didn’t deserve to lose. I think in this moment Brighton are like this. We are trying to play better, we are trying to win but it’s clear we are spending a tough moment.
We have a lot of injuries, we have many points to the European position. It has been a tough season for the players who played a lot of games - Gross, Van Hecke, Dunk, Welbeck and we are trying to give our best but at the moment it’s tough.
05:28 PM BST
City winger Doku reacts
We knew it was going to be very difficult against a team that plays very deep. We had to be patient and we were, we scored a good goal through Kova[cic] and after that it became easier. We knew we might need goals and it’s good we got five today.
Of course I’m happy, some games you create chances and the statistics don’t follow - today was a good day, it worked and I’m very happy about that.
05:22 PM BST
Forest’s Gibbs-White reacts
Yes of course it is [still in our own hands]. We were in this position last season so we know what we have to do. We just need to keep plugging away and picking up as many points as possible. This one today could prove vital come the end of the season. Disappointed but we’ll take the point.
05:08 PM BST
FULL TIME Brentford 2 Sheffield United 0
Brentford complete a 2-0 home win over rock-bottom Sheffield United to end their winless run of nine Premier League games under coach Thomas Frank.
05:06 PM BST
FULL TIME Nottingham Forest 2 Wolves 2
Matheus Cunha scored twice for Wolverhampton Wanderers in his first start in two months as relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest let a second-half lead slip in their 2-2 Premier League draw at the City Ground.
04:59 PM BST
FULL TIME Burnley 1 Brighton 1
Relegation draws closer for Burnley after another howler from goalkeeper Arijanet Muric meant they had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor against Brighton.
Burnley have only lost once in six matches but they have given themselves so much to do in their bid to avoid the drop that a home point was just not enough.
Substitute Josh Bronwhill put them ahead in the 74th minute but Muric’s bungling failure to trap Sander Berge’s back pass five minutes later – a week after his error led to defeat at Everton – gave Brighton a point on the road.
Even if they were given a helping hand, Brighton deserved it after dominating the second period.
04:56 PM BST
FULL TIME Man City 5 Luton 1
Big end to the match for City to boost their goal difference. They are now two points clear at the top.
04:55 PM BST
90+3mins: Man City 5 Luton 1 GOAL
Josko Gvardiol has his striking boots on again. The Croatia defender found the net with a beauty against Real Madrid and this was another cracker. Getting the ball from Jeremy Doku’s pull-back, he unleashed into the top corner.
He had not scored for City before this week and now has two in as many games.
04:54 PM BST
90+3mins: Brentford 2 Sheffield United 0 GOAL
That will do it. Brentford score again in the 93rd minute and it’s Frank Onyeka who had just come on as sub. It was Sergio Reguilon’s throw in, Kevin Shade with a clever touch and Onyeka to finish from close range.
“We are staying up,” sing the Bees fans.
04:48 PM BST
88mins: Man City 4 Luton 1 GOAL
City put an end to any hopes of a Luton comeback. Jeremy Doku dances around Onyedinma and threads his finish through the legs of Daiki Hashioka.
04:44 PM BST
75mins: Burnley 1 Brighton 1 GOAL
Brighton are level in the 79th minute after a terrible, terrible error from Arijanet Muric.
The Burnley goalkeeper somehow allowed a gentle back pass from Sander Berge to dribble under his foot and into his net. He tried to trap it but failed miserably.
For the second week in a row Muric has cost his side.
04:42 PM BST
81mins: Man City 3 Luton 1 GOAL
Ross Barkley pulls a goal back for Luton. He robs Matheus Nunes as City try to play it out from the back, then dances around Ruben Dias before finishing past Ederson. Fine goal from Barkley, who sends fans back down the M6 with at least a goal to sing about.
One more goal and it will be very interesting, with De Bruyne and Haaland subbed off to save their legs.
04:39 PM BST
74mins: Burnley 1 Brighton 0 GOAL
Goal for Burnley. Substitute Josh Brownhill capitalises on a defensive blunder from Carlos Baleba to give the home side a precious lead in the 74th minute.
Baleba sold Bart Verbruggen short and the Brighton goalkeeper’s clearance cannoned off Brownhill as he charged in and into the empty net.
If there was some good fortune for Burnley, Brownhill deserved it for his energy.
It was the flip of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s winner for Everton against them last week.
Will it be enough?
04:35 PM BST
76mins: Man City 3 Luton 0 GOAL
Fred Onyedinma survived a penalty shout a few minutes ago when Jeremy Doku went down - but he doesn’t get away with a second one. He brings downs the Belgium winger and it gives Erling Haaland the opportunity to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot.
The Premier League’s top-scorer sends Thomas Kaminski the wrong way.
04:33 PM BST
71mins: Burnley 0 Brighton 0
A defensive headache for Burnley with Hjalmar Ekdal, who had played well, limping off.
With substitute Charlie Taylor already deployed at half time for Vitinho, the home side have brought on Josh Brownhill and been forced to move Sander Berge into defence from midfield.
Can Brighton exploit this in the 20 minutes that remain?
04:32 PM BST
68mins: Brentford 1 Sheffield United 0
Drama as Mikkel Damsgaard has what would have been his first goal for Brentford ruled out for a foul by Nathan Collins on McBurnie in the build up. It was a well-worked free-kick taken by Mbuemo and volleyed in by Damsgaard.
But when Sam Barrott was called to the monitor, there only looked like being one outcome.
04:27 PM BST
64mins: Man City 2 Luton 0 GOAL
Midway through the second half and City finally make it 2-0. Mateo Kovacic channels his Paul Scholes for this one.
A short corner is played to the edge of the area where Kovacic volleys powerfully into the top corner.
04:26 PM BST
63mins: Brentford 1 Sheffield United 0 GOAL
Given how little either side had created, it was perhaps inevitable that it would take a bit of good (or bad) for a goal to be scored here. Mikkel Damsgaard drove forward from midfield and his attempted cross deflected off the unlucky Arblaster and past Ivo Grbic.
The game needed that even if Sheffield United didn’t.
04:26 PM BST
62mins: Nottingham Forest 2 Wolves 2 GOAL
Great response by the away side and Cunha gets his second of the match after a scramble in the box.
04:23 PM BST
59mins: Burnley 0 Brighton 0
Still goalless but Brighton in the ascendancy at Turf Moor in the second half.
Pascal Gross goes close twice, first with a deflected shot that left Arijanet Muric stranded in the Burnley goal and then with a strike the Kosovan did well to tip over.
Earlier, Maxime Esteve had come to Burnley’s rescue, hunting down Simon Adingra after Brighton had split open the home defence.
Burnley looking increasingly ragged at the back and hanging on a little.
04:20 PM BST
57mins: Nottingham Forest 2 Wolves 1 GOAL
Home side complete the comeback through midfielder Danilo, who side foots past Sa.
As things stand, Forest move up to 16th.
04:18 PM BST
54mins: Brentford 0 Sheffield United 0
Still no Toney and still no goals. Brentford just thought they had one when Zanka volleyed in from Mathias Jensen’s free-kick but it was rightly ruled out for offside.
Sheffield United have just made the first change – James McAtee on for Yasser Larouci.
04:08 PM BST
Second half
We are back under way around the grounds.
04:07 PM BST
‘The feel of a training match’
The atmosphere in the Etihad is flat. City are a goal up and have not come under any pressure. It has the feel of a training match ahead of facing Real Madrid in four days’ time.
De Bruyne’s booking a couple of minutes before the break livened things up a little.
04:04 PM BST
‘An outstanding strike’
There have been endless replays at the City Ground of Matheus Cunha’s goal, and it really was an outstanding strike.
Taking the ball inside his own half, Cunha advanced into the area and eluded Andrew Omobamidele before crashing a shot into the top corner.
There is also a flick just before the shot which takes the Brazilian past both Omobamidele and Ryan Yates, which makes all the difference.
Gary O’Neil must be wondering how the season might have ended if he had not lost Cunha for most of February and March with that hamstring injury.
03:54 PM BST
Half-time verdict from Turf Moor . . .
Goalless at half time at Turf Moor but Burnley’s David Datro Fofano will be asking himself how. The on-loan Chelsea striker slid in a cross from Wilson Odobert in added time but could not divert the ball into the Brighton net from inside the six-yard box.
If Burnley had the cleaner chances, Brighton had their moments too. Jakub Moder’s free-kick was saved by Arijanet Muric in the 43rd minute and the Kosovan goalkeeper then had to be quickly off his line to thwart Danny Welbeck from a tight angle after a one-two with the silky Joao Pedro.
After his howler that cost Burnley so dearly at Everton last week it has been a strong response so far from Muric.
03:51 PM BST
HALF TIME
We head to the break around the grounds with City leading Luton and a goal apiece between Nottingham Forest and Wolves.
No goals in the matches at Turf Moor and the Gtech.
03:49 PM BST
45+1mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Wolves 1 GOAL
Equaliser for the home side. From a corner by Reyna, heads in at the near post.
03:44 PM BST
39mins: Nottingham Forest 0 Wolves 1 GOAL
Matheus Cunha chases a long ball, battles against the Forest centre-backs and produces a brilliant bit of skill to beat them then whip a shot into the top corner.
Stunning strike.
03:41 PM BST
40mins: Brentford 0 Sheffield United 0
Maupay has just had the first real chance of the game as Anel Ahmedhodzic lost the ball attempting to run out of defence. Maupay was stretching to meet Bryan Mbuemo’s pass and his toe poke dribbled agonisingly wide of the post.
Toney is warming up already and that brought the biggest cheer of the half from the home support.
03:39 PM BST
38mins: Burnley 0 Brighton 0
Brighton have come into the game more after their sluggish start and Carlos Baleba and Simon Adingra have both tested Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric from the edge of the penalty area.
The best chance so far, however, fell to Burnley’s Jacob Bruun Larsen after 18 minutes but he fluffed his lines at the far post.
The Dane, on loan from Hoffenheim, is Burnley’s joint leading scorer this season. With five goals. Which explains a lot about their predicament near the foot of the Premier League.
03:38 PM BST
34mins: Brentford 0 Sheffield United 0
Oliver Arblaster is an under-the-radar success story for Sheffield United this season. The 19-year-old academy graduate has been composed so far in central midfield, in what is only his sixth appearance in the Premier League.
There are a few moans here amongst the home side who are impatient to see their team create a chance as they look for their first win in 10 games.
03:34 PM BST
31mins: Burnley 0 Brighton 0
This fixture is one of the Premier League’s great culture clashes – Lancashire mill-town versus London-by-the-sea.
For the Brighton fans who made the long trek north, this is a distinct change of air. They aren’t overly impressed judging by the ‘Burnley’s a s---hole, I want to go home chants.’
All a matter of taste. It might not have a beach or pavilion but the view from the top of the James Hargreaves Stand at Turf Moor remains magnificently Lowry-esque.
03:32 PM BST
30mins: Man City 1 Luton 0
City get closer to a second goal. Matheus Nunes gets released behind the Luton defence by Kevin De Bruyne and his shot strikes the post. City have had all the possession, as you would expect.
They are trying to find a way through a red wall in front of Thomas Kaminski’s goal.
03:30 PM BST
29mins: Nottingham Forest 0 Wolves 0
Amazing goal-line clearance from Murillo. After a sloppy pass from Ryan Yates presented Joao Gomes with a chance, the midfielder’s shot beat Matz Sels but was headed off the line by Murillo. Pablo Sarabia then missed the target from the rebound.
Murillo is an outstanding prospect. Signed for £11m from Corinthians, he is easily worth five times that now.
03:27 PM BST
26mins: Nottingham Forest 0 Wolves 0
Wolves fans have just asked Nuno Espirito Santo to give them a wave – and then booed him for ignoring them.
Nuno remains a popular figure among the Wolves supporters after his four-year tenure, which included a Championship title, an FA Cup semi-final and Europa League quarter-final.
There’s not much else going on here at the City Ground. Forest have had a few chances but it’s very evenly matched.
03:23 PM BST
22mins: Brentford 0 Sheffield United 0
In Ben Brereton Diaz and Oli McBurnie, Sheffield United have a pretty robust front line. It’s causing problems for Zanka and Nathan Collins who are being buffeted all over the place. It’s all quite frantic here so far.
Chris Wilder’s side are doing a good job of disrupting Brentford’s attempts to move smoothly through the lines so the Bees are struggling to get going.
03:17 PM BST
13mins: Burnley 0 Brighton 0
Brighton’s rotten run with injuries continues as Pervis Estupinan’s race is run after just 13 minutes.
The Ecuadorian pulled up awkwardly, untouched by any opponent and has been replaced by Igor Julio. It looks like an ankle twist.
Roberto De Zerbi has a thin bench padded out with a collection of youngsters so that is the last thing he needed.
03:13 PM BST
12mins: Burnley 0 Brighton 0
A big shout for a Burnley penalty as Wilson Odobert crashes to the ground in the area but nothing doing.
Pervis Estupinan took enough of the ball to satisfy referee Simon Hooper. Lovely build-up by Burnley who have started really well.
Brighton, harried and hassled by Burnley’s energetic pressing, have yet to get going.
03:10 PM BST
9mins: Brentford 0 Sheffield United 0
Sheffield United have started well here at the Gtech Stadium. Auston Trusty just found himself in a great position on the edge of the area but wasted the chance with a shot that sailed high over the bar.
The only action of note so far for Brentford is a booking for Maupay for a trip on Jayden Bogle which looked harsh. Great atmosphere here with both sets of supporters in good voice.
03:08 PM BST
6mins: Burnley 0 Brighton 0
A couple of corners for Burnley in the opening five minutes at Turf Moor.
Craig Bellamy is on touchline duty for the home side today with Vincent Kompany serving a touchline ban after his red card against Chelsea.
Kompany’s assistant was sent off four times during his career and booked on 88 other occasions but calm heads are probably what Burnley need today.
They may be struggling in the relegation zone but they top the Premier League for sendings off this season.
03:05 PM BST
2mins: Man City 1 Luton 0 GOAL
One minute and seven seconds on the clock and City are a goal up. For those who triple-captained Erling Haaland in fantasy league (me) it unfortunately goes down as an own goal. Haaland’s scissor-kick was going well wide but went in off Daiki Hashioka.
Hashioka, who also scored an own goal against Arsenal recently, needed treatment as the ball whacked him in the face on the way in.
03:01 PM BST
Kick-off
The whistles have blown around the grounds in the Premier League 3pm kick offs.
02:57 PM BST
Rob Edwards: We know how difficult it’s going to be
Our key today is to try and build on our performances - good displays against Tottenham and Arsenal, and a really good win last week against Bournemouth.
We know how difficult it’s going to be but we’re looking for a performance full of commitment, lots of hard running and try to cause them problems.
02:54 PM BST
Pep Guardiola: We’re tired
It’s not the first time we’ve been in this situation. It’s one month to finish the Premier League and we’re going to do everything.
We’re tired, fatigued, but we’re going to try to do it.
02:53 PM BST
‘De Bruyne is back’
Team sheets were re-printed here at the Etihad Stadium, where Phil Foden was left off first time around. The hero of the Bernabeu is on the bench, while Kevin De Bruyne is back, starting and with the captain’s armband after missing out against Real Madrid.
But the most significant news is Ederson being back from injury in place of Stefan Ortega. That is a huge boost for Pep Guardiola ahead of the second leg on Wednesday.
02:51 PM BST
Wolves eyeing win at City Ground
02:07 PM BST
Manchester City vs Luton Town team news . . .
Manchester City
Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis, Kovacic, Matheus Luiz, Alvarez, De Bruyne, Doku, Haaland.
Subs: Walker, Ake, Grealish, Rodri, Ortega, Bernardo Silva, Gomez, Foden, Bobb.
Luton Town
Kaminski, Onyedinma, Hashioka, Burke, Doughty, Chong, Barkley, Berry, Clark, Morris, Townsend.
Subs: Shea, Woodrow, Mpanzu, Krul, Johnson, Chigozie, Nelson, Piesold, Harris.
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire).
02:05 PM BST
Nottingham Forest vs Wolverhampton Wanderers team news . . .
Anthony Elanga is out of Forest’s game against Wolves after sustaining an injury in training, but is expected back for next weekend’s trip to Everton.
The big news for Wolves is that Hwang Hee-chan is back, starting on the bench. Gary O’Neil’s season has been threatening to run out of steam after injuries to key players, including Pedro Neto, but Hwang is among the substitutes today.
Nottingham Forest
Sels, Williams, Omobamidele, Murillo, Aina, Yates, Danilo, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Reyna, Wood.
Subs: Turner, Tavares, Sangare, Toffolo, Dominguez, Niakhate, Origi, Montiel, Duarte Ribeiro.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Jose Sa, Santiago Bueno, Kilman, Gomes, Nelson Semedo, Mario Lemina, Joao Gomes, Doherty, Sarabia, Doyle, Matheus Cunha.
Subs: Traore, Hwang, Dawson, Hugo Bueno, Bentley, King, Barnett, Chirewa, Fraser.
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire).
02:04 PM BST
Burnley vs Brighton & Hove Albion team news . . .
Relegation-haunted Burnley make two changes to their defence for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion. One is enforced, with Dara O’Shea suspended after his red card at Everton last week, and the other sees Charlie Taylor dropped to the bench. Vitinho and Hjalmar Ekdal are the players who come in.
Brighton also make two alterations from the home defeat against Arsenal with Joao Pedro and Joel Veltman added to the starting line-up as Tariq Lamptey and Julio Enciso join Roberto De Zerbi’s extensive injury list.
Burnley
Muric, Vitinho, Ekdal, Esteve, Assignon, Foster, Cullen, Berge, Bruun Larsen, Odobert, Fofana.
Subs: Trafford, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Rodriguez, Benson, Amdouni, Ndayishimiye, Massengo.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan, Gross, Baleba, Adingra, Moder, Joao Pedro, Welbeck.
Subs: Igor, Lallana, Barco, Steele, Fati, Buonanotte, Offiah, Peupion, O’Mahony.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
02:02 PM BST
Brentford vs Sheffield United team news . . .
Ivan Toney is on the bench for Brentford for the second game in a row with Neal Maupay preferred in attack. Sheffield United make just one change with Yasser Larouci coming in for injured captain Jack Robinson as Chris Wilder attempts to preserve the Blades’ slim survival chances.
Brentford
Flekken, Roerslev, Jorgensen, Collins, Reguilon, Jensen, Janelt, Damsgaard, Mbeumo, Maupay, Wissa.
Subs: Pinnock, Schade, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Toney, Strakosha, Lewis-Potter, Baptiste, Yarmolyuk.
Sheffield United
Grbic, Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Bogle, Hamer, Arblaster, Osborn, Larouci, Brereton, McBurnie.
Subs: Archer, Norwood, Foderingham, Vinicius Souza, Ben Slimane, McAtee, Curtis, Osula, Brooks.
Referee: Sam Barrott (West Yorkshire)
01:45 PM BST
Afternoon all . . .
And welcome to coverage of the 3pm kick offs from the Premier League with four games impacting the top and bottom of the table.
For 24 hours at least, Manchester City can top the Premier League table with a win at home to Luton Town.
But could City’s focus be elsewhere with a Champions League second-leg clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday?
”We have to [focus on Luton Town], the Premier League is so important,” Pep Guardiola said on Friday. “It’s 11, 10 months we’ve been fighting for the title, we know what position we are in.”
Luton will be desperate to get something from the game having scored a late winner at Bournemouth last week. A shock win would see them climb as high as 16th.
At Turf Moor, Burnley are six points from safety heading into today’s match with Brighton. Burnley manager Vincent Kompany will not be on the touchline after being found to have used improper and/or abusive and/or insulting towards a match official.
Brentford have drawn their last three matches and have not won a league game since February 10. They face Sheffield United, who sit bottom of the league and seem destined to be relegated but Thomas Frank has warned Brentford they cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
He said: “We are facing a Sheffield United team that look much more like a Chris Wilder Sheffield United team, when they got promoted under him.
”The last four games, they have been very much in form, great performances, very good results as well – 2-2 against Chelsea, Liverpool only just beat them at Anfield, 3-3 against Fulham, and 2-2 against Bournemouth.
”They have more fight and they are more difficult to beat. They are doing everything I would expect from a Chris Wilder team.
”I think he has done a very good job in general, and we are seeing what he is building at the club now, so I expect a difficult game.”
Relegation threatened Nottingham Forest host Wolves, who are winless in three but could move up to ninth with a win.
