Ahead of Brentford’s Premier League meeting with Leeds United on Sunday (2pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports), we spoke with The Athletic’s Leeds writer Beren Cross.

Cross reflects on Leeds’ opening-day victory over Nottingham Forest, highlights defender Tarik Muharemović as one to watch and explains what the Bees can expect from Daniel Farke’s side at Elland Road.

Leeds started the season with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. How did they perform in the opener and what did Daniel Farke have to say about it?

Anton Stach did not score until the 88th minute, so we were all putting our thoughts together towards the end of the game and trying to make sense of it all – and I think the feeling was that it was going to be a very, very good point on the road.

A 0-0 draw away from home on the opening weekend, especially at Forest, would be a good result. There was a lot of merit in the way they defended; they were very strong and hard to break down.

Neither side played particularly well, that is fair to say. It did not feel like pre-season, but it was a game between two teams that were rusty and trying to find their flow.

The big positive was going to be that, no matter what Forest put together, Leeds never really looked like conceding. James Trafford had to make one good save, but Daniel Farke said afterwards he provided “an aura of confidence” without having to make 10 spectacular saves.

The attacking was not brilliant, and they did not cut Forest apart too often, but there was a lot of credit given to the defence and the structure of the team in how difficult they were to break down.

Stach’s free-kick was spectacular – and it is not the first time he has done it – but there was maybe a bit of fault in the Forest wall and maybe a little bit on Matz Sels. It turned what was already a pretty good day into a very good, if not excellent, day.

Farke has already spoken about 40 points being the first target. What would you say is a realistic aim for this season?

It is quite sensible for all managers who are outside the big six to say about getting to 40 points and then seeing how many games they have got left to attack. I think it is important people do not get carried away.

Pre-season went really, really well for Leeds and they went into the Forest game aware it was a difficult away game, but full of optimism. The Athletic actually ran a hope survey, where we polled our readers based on the clubs they supported and asked for them to vote on how optimistic they were – and Leeds were top.

Anyone with knowledge of West Yorkshire will know it is quite rare for fans to be so optimistic. I predicted 11th, which I think is fairly realistic, but with a touch of ambition as well.

The key thing is that we hope and assume the players who made the step up last year – and maybe surpassed expectations – can repeat that again. It is very easy to assume the players from last year will be at that level again and the new players will take them even higher. It is not an exact science, though.

The dream scenario would be a very strong top-half finish, maybe similar to Brentford last season, but if the wheels come off and Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Trafford – God forbid – do get injured, it could end up being a season of struggle.

Which player should Brentford fans keep an eye out for on Sunday?

It is hard to ignore the new signings, just because they have the ‘new’ factor to them and Brentford fans might be more interested in seeing new players they have not seen play for Leeds before.

The temptation is Trafford, but I do hope Tarik Muharemović will catch their eye. He is a left-sided centre-back and it is hard to miss him because he is another very tall, physical player, but he has got a bit of grace about him.

I might not go as far as calling him a Rolls Royce yet, but he is very technically proficient and not just a head it and kick it centre-back.

What should Keith Andrews’ players expect in terms of shape and style?

The opening Saturday was very similar to what we saw at the back end of last season, which is quite reassuring.

From 1 December, Leeds were seventh in the Premier League last season, so it has worked over a long period of time, this 3-4-2-1 shape.

Assuming there are no injuries, I would expect it would be an unchanged XI on Sunday. Everybody played their part against Forest.

At Elland Road, there is a touch more expectation and a touch more attacking threat and ambition in the way they play.

Last season’s meetings produced two draws. What’s your score prediction for this one?

Brentford were so good on the opening day against an admittedly poor Spurs team, so it is difficult because tails will be up.

The meeting at Elland Road last year was truly awful – one of the worst spectacles I can remember for many years!

Given the early season optimism and the fact Leeds have got home advantage, I would like to think they will sneak a 2-1 win.