Brentford are expecting an 'all action' game against Leeds United at Elland Road tonight in the Premier League's late kick-off.
The Whites play host to a Bees side sitting just six points outside the Champions League places and in with a shout of European qualification. Brentford can now call themselves an established top flight side, almost five years after securing promotion from the Championship. Sixteenth is the lowest they have finished, but there was a 13-point cushion between them and the drop zone. Last season they placed 10th. Keith Andrews has the Bees on for something close to their best ever league finish. In 1936 they finished fifth in the First Division.
But for promoted teams in recent seasons establishing firm footing in the Premier League has proved an almost impossible task. Last season's newly-promoted trio endured a nightmare campaign, combining for just 59 points collectively. This season Sunderland have bucked that trend, amassing 40 points already and while Burnley are deep in trouble, Leeds are currently three points outside the drop zone.
"Traditionally it has been [difficult]," said Andrews. "I was part of a team that was promoted, when I came into it a few seasons ago, Sheffield United, so I'm pretty well placed to discuss it. It is very difficult for clubs to get things right on a lot of fronts to give them the best possible chance to stay in the league. How they balance the finances, how much they push, what type of people they bring in, what they change in terms of their style of play because they've gone from being a dominant force in the Championship to, realistically, not a dominant force in the Premier League - I think that's unrealistic. It can be really difficult. This season teams have made a really good fist of it, Leeds have been very, very competitive and are a very difficult team to play against."
When Brentford hosted Leeds earlier in the season Leeds had less possession but created more than the Bees, yet still had to rescue a point eight minutes from time through Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Ahead of their second meeting of the season, Andrews revealed his expectations for an intense, physical affair.
"I think it'll be all-action, with the way the two teams play," he said. "It'll be intense, a physical game the way the two teams set up, the personnel in the starting line-ups. But equally some really talented players for both teams. Really well coached Leeds, can play in different ways. Daniels' done a brilliant job there, he's got them into a really good place where they're fighting hard. They're a very effective team."
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