Brentford travel to face Reading in the League Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday evening at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. The Bees carry an unbeaten five-match run into the cup tie, sitting sixth in the Premier League with six points from four games.
Team news and injuries
Thomas Frank will be without several first-team players for the trip to Berkshire. Midfielders Josh Dasilva and Mathias Jensen are sidelined with a knock and a strain respectively, while defenders Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg are also unavailable. This could open the door for squad rotation, with the likes of Jannik Schuster and Keane Lewis-Potter potentially featuring from the start. Reading, managed by Ruben Selles, are expected to field a strong side as they look to cause an upset against top-flight opposition.
Recent form
Brentford's form has been built on resilience, drawing their last three league matches. They came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth last time out, with Kevin Schade scoring both goals. Schade is the club's top scorer this season with three goals in four appearances. Their last victory was a comprehensive 6-1 win at Birmingham City in late August. Reading's form has been mixed; they beat Blackpool 3-1 at home recently but suffered a 2-1 defeat at Cambridge United last weekend.
Cup focus and what's next
The League Cup represents a chance for silverware and Frank has historically taken it seriously. With a busy Premier League schedule, managing the squad will be key. The winner of this tie will progress to the next round. Brentford's attention will quickly turn back to league duty, as they host Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday night. The latest squad availability can be tracked on the injuries page.
