Brentford's first pre-season friendly of the summer will see them travel to Hertfordshire on Saturday afternoon to take on National League outfit Boreham Wood.
The visitors are building towards their Premier League opener away to Leicester City on August 7, while Boreham Wood will begin their 2022-23 National League campaign at Southend United on August 6.
Match preview
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Boreham Wood finished ninth in the National League last season, seven points behind seventh-place Chesterfield, meaning that they will again play in the fifth tier of English football next term.
The Wood have not been in action since suffering a 3-0 loss to Solihull Moors on the final weekend of the 2021-22 campaign, with this match representing their first pre-season fixture.
Luke Garrard's side will take on West Ham United, Hitchin Town, Dartford and Potters Bar Town in friendlies this month before opening their 2022-23 National League season away to Southend on August 6.
A busy opening month of the season will also see Boreham Wood face Notts County, Aldershot Town, Torquay United, Altrincham and Dorking Wanderers in the National League.
The Wood have made five new signings thus far this summer, bringing in Dion Kelly-Evans, Alfie Egan, Danny Newton, Lee Ndlovu and Danny Elliott on free transfers.
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Brentford, meanwhile, will also be playing their first match of pre-season this weekend, while the Bees will take on Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, Brighton & Hove Albion and Real Betis in their four friendlies after this contest.
Thomas Frank's side are building towards their Premier League opener against Leicester on August 7, and it will be fascinating to see how the capital outfit perform in the top flight next term, having impressed during the 2021-22 campaign, finishing 13th in the division.
Brentford will be desperate to avoid second-season syndrome at the top level, but it has been a quiet transfer window thus far, and Christian Eriksen, who was so impressive in the second half of last season, has left following the expiration of his contract.
The Bees are expected to boost their squad before the end of the transfer window, but they have thus far managed to keep the majority of their key players from last season, which is a massive bonus.
Brentford will actually play five league matches in the opening month of the new Premier League campaign, taking on Leicester, Manchester United, Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace.
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Team News
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There could be five debutants in the Boreham Wood side this weekend, with Kelly-Evans, Egan, Newton, Ndlovu and Elliott all pushing to be involved against Brentford.
Head coach Garrard will make full use of his squad during the pre-season clash, so there will be plenty of changes throughout the contest.
Nathan Ashmore is likely to get the nod between the sticks for the National League outfit, while Josh Rees and Jack Munns are in line for spots in the middle of midfield.
As for Brentford, head coach Frank said earlier this week that he was delighted with the application of the players in the early stages of pre-season.
Like Boreham Wood, it is possible that two different XIs could play in each half of this contest, but a strong starting side should take to the field from the first whistle, including Sergi Canos and Rico Henry.
Ivan Toney scored 12 Premier League goals during an impressive 2021-22 campaign, and the 26-year-old should feature in the final third of the field for the Bees.
Boreham Wood possible starting lineup:
Ashmore; Kelly-Evans, Stephens, Stevens, Mendy; Egan, Rees, Munns; Newton, Ndlovu, Elliott
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Henry, Jansson, Ajer, Pinnock; Jensen, Janelt, Norgaard, Canos; Toney, Mbuemo
We say: Boreham Wood 1-3 Brentford
Neither manager will be too concerned about the final result on Saturday, but Brentford boss Frank will be expecting his side to triumph due to the difference in quality between the two sets of players. Boreham Wood will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet, but we are backing Brentford to win here.
Matt Law
