Brentford boss Frank: My deadly strike stars don’t need to leave to reach Prem
Mbeumo Ayew Watkins
BRENTFORD boss Thomas Frank hailed his devastating three-pronged attack after keeping up the pressure on the promotion pacesetters.
And the Bees’ chances of reaching the Premier League could hang on keeping
Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma and Bryan Mbeumo in next month’s transfer window.
Striker Watkins, snapped up for a bargain £1.8million from Exeter two years ago, took his Championship goal tally to 15 with a brace.
That came after £6m French forward Mbeumo had put Brentford ahead against play-off rivals Swansea with his fifth goal in six games.
All the while Algerian wing-wizard Benrahma pulled strings and tormented the Swans – who briefly got back into it at 2-1 through Andre Ayew. Benrahma is reportedly attracting attention from Tottenham, Arsenal and Aston Villa, while Watkins is being tracked by Sheffield United and Crystal Palace.
Frank (below) said: “The three are still getting better in my opinion, even if that seems a bit frightening.
“We know how good Said is, but he has another level to come. And both him and Bryan were OK today, but there is more.
“Ollie was fantastic in this game, not only for his two goals but his work ethic and leadership and awareness. Other times, he may be down and the other two step up.
“As regards 18 A Mitrovic (Fulham) 15 O Watkins (Brentford) J Bowen (Hull)
12 K Grant (Huddersfield) S Fletcher (Sheff Wed) L Grabban (N Forest)
Ref: Andy Woolmer Att: 11,848 keeping them, why would anyone want to leave Brentford right now? We are in a good place, playing attractive football, they are performing and enjoying their life.
“Maybe even a desire to go to the new stadium could play a part. And it’s not just their attacking now, which we know is so good – they are defending better as part of the team, too.”
Frustrated Swansea head coach Steve Cooper said: “Our first half performance was short, we didn’t do the basics well enough.
“We’ve given away two soft goals, one from a set-piece and one from where we’ve let the ball come in the box too easily.
“We played a lot better in the second half, but the first half really cost us.
“Our defender Mike van der Hoorn getting injured in the warm-up was a blow, but we can’t use that.”
BRENTFORD:
SWANSEA:
MOTM
OLLIE WATKINS (BRENTFORD)
SWINDON
CAMBRIDGE 4 0
KESHI ANDERSON’S hat-trick and Eoin Doyle’s 15th goal in 11 games helped Swindon trounce Cambridge.
Doyle slotted home his 21st of the season, a fifth-minute penalty, and an Anderson double made it 3-0 by halftime. The 24-year-old completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute, tucking home after Cambridge could only block a Doyle cross.
WES McDONALD and Alfie Bates scored at the end of each half as Walsall won again.
McDonald’s deflected effort in the 43rd minute put the Saddlers ahead, but Scunthorpe still looked lively early on, with Lee Nova, Kevin Van Veen and Abo Eisa all going close.
The visitors won it six minutes from time when 18-year-old Bates fired in his first league goal.