BRENTFORD vs DARLINGTON Matchfile

6:20pm Friday 21st November 2008

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BRENTFORD (4-4-2): Hamer; Osborne, O'Connor, Bennett, Dickson; Williams, Bean, Phillips, Poole; MacDonald, Bowditch. Subs (from): Elder, Brown, Newton, Wood, Pead, Anderson, Johnson

DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Oakes; Austin, Miller, White, Valentine; Purdie, Kennedy, Ravenhill, Burgmeier; Blundell, Foran. Subs (from): Kazmierczak, Ryan, Hulbert, Griffin, Poole, Blundell, Riley, Bradley, Main

DARLINGTON: Liam Hatch is out for around a fortnight with the neck injury he sustained on Tuesday at Droylsden so he will be replaced in the front-line by Richie Foran. Foran started on Tuesday at left-midfield, a position filled on Saturday by Franz Burgmeier who played on Wednesday for Liechtenstein in Slovakia. Despite injuries to Hatch and Clarke as well as Pawel Abbot's long-term absence Adam Proudlock remains on loan at Grimsby. During the first 28 days of his loan the striker cannot be recalled.

Injuries: Hatch (neck), Abbott (ankle), Clarke (hamstring)

Suspensions None

Leading league scorer: Clarke 8 (1 pen)

Last five league games: WWWWW

Next game: Chester (H) 25/11/08

BRENTFORD: Marvin Williams could return after sitting out last week's win at Port Vale after tweaking his hamstring a fortnight ago. If is passed fit he will probably return on the right of midfield, allowing on loan Dean Bowditch to revert to attack. Boss Andy Scott will then face a selection dilemma with Nathan Elder and Charlie MacDonald vying for the other spot up front. John Halls is out until the New Year after undergoing knee surgery last week so youngster Karleigh Osborne should keep his place at right-back. Back-up goalkeeper Seb Brown returns to the bench after a virus sidelined him last weekend. Ross Montague remains on loan at Basingstoke where he scored last weekend.

Injuries: Halls (knee), Smith

Suspensions: None

Leading scorer: MacDonald 7

Last five league games: WLLDW

Key player: Glenn Poole - Left-winger scored four goals in four games last month

League head-to-head: Brentford 17, Darlington 9, draws 6

Last season: 0-2

Odds: H7/5 A21/10 D5/2

Referee: James Linington (Newport) G7 Y20 R1 Av:3

Last Darlington match: 2-1W v Luton (A) 11/10/08 Y3 R0

Its a fact: The game will be the third time Brentford have faced the league leaders this season. They knocked both Dagenham and Wycombe off their perches with a win and a draw respectively.

Comment by CRAIG STODDART: Without so many key players Darlington would be happy to extend their undefeated league run

Prediction: 1-1