Billy Bunter’s Football Betting blog

Warburton’s departure is a worry for the Bees

I suppose it's going to be a close heat as to what turns out to be the bigger sum of money – the amount it will take any incoming government to pay off the deficit or the cash it will cost the three unsuccessful Championship challengers who fail to win the playoffs.

Yes it's all about the Premier League dream this week. The chance for Norwich, Ipswich, Brentford and Middlesbrough to battle it out to win between six and eight of their 38 matches next season.

The Bees start it all off against Boro and it adds a tricky dimension that their manager Mark Warburton will not be in charge at Griffin Park next season.

I've worked my notice before and to say it's difficult to keep your mind on the job in hand is an understatement.

Either you are in constant deliberation with your new bosses over how much they are going to pay you and what car you can get your hands on.

Or you are planning your leaving do. Booking a room in a pub can be a problematic experience

Or you are plucking up the courage to ask that girl out in accounts because you realise in a few weeks that you'll have missed your final chance.

What I'd struggle to think about is how my team were going to fight their way past a Middlesbrough defence who have conceded eight fewer goals than any other team in the second tier.

The players should be on the ball, though. Brentford have had a great season and performed brillinatly to reach the playoffs, so they are bound to give it their all.

But against a tight defence, goals could be few and far between, so I'm backing the teams to be level when they head to the Riverside for next week's second leg.